Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Botany - Microbiology

Antimicrobial activities of the twelve essential oils (EOs) (black cumin, castor, cinnamon, clove, cumin, garlic, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, menthe, olive, and thyme) were tested against sixteen isolated deteriorated fungal species and three isolated bacterial species isolated three tested archaeological objects (wall painting stone, wooden statue, and pottery coffin), Saqqara excavation, Giza, Egypt. Thyme oil was the most efficient EO, which cause the maximum significant growth inhibition in the growth of all isolated microbial species followed by clove and geranium. Thymol (37.1%) and p-cymene (26.32%) were the most active constituents of thyme, while triacetin (69.36%) and eugenol (28.67) were the most efficient components of clove oil followed by geranium active components (à-citronellol 20.62% and geraniol 14.43%). The most efficient three selected essential oils (thyme, clove, and geranium) showed inhibitory effects on the dry weight, enzymatic activities, polysaccharides, and nitrogen contents, and citric acid productivity of the most dominant three selected fungal species (Aspergillus niger MH557084, A. flavus MH557083, and Rhizopus oryzae MH557082). Application of the most efficient essential oils on the difference in the color of the three artificial aging experimental models was carried out. The thyme oil has the most acceptable difference in color (xE < 3) on the three tested experimental models accompanied with the highest antimicrobial activity, so it is a promising eco-friendly treatment for the preservation of archaeological objects

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