# Eco-Friendly Preservation of Pharaonic Wooden Artifacts using Natural Green Products
## 1 Introduction  
Egyptian wooden artifacts constitute an important part of global cultural heritage. The impact of microbial deterioration on cultural heritage is a well-recognized global problem and the preservation thereof is a challenging task. Archaeological pharaonic wood provides valuable information about ancient cultures; therefore, significant effort should be invested to preserve these precious objects against microbial damage to preserve them for future generations in good condition [1]. The biodeterioration of wooden cultural heritage is a severe problem, and fungi have the most significant potential effect on this type of historical artwork [2; 3]. Fungi have a detrimental effect on the aesthetic value of the archaeological wood due to colonization by their pigmented mycelium with the production and deposition of melanin pigment [4]. The decay caused by wood-destroying fungi belonging to _Ascomycata_, _Basidiumycota_, and _Deuteromycetes_, and their responsibility for the irreversible heritage loss of archaeological wooden artifacts, has been highlighted by several authors [5; 6]. Their sensitivity to fungal attack and their durability can vary among wood species, and we can also note that the ancient Egyptians selected the most resistant woods to preserve their artefacts [1; 7]. In the case of archaeological wood, the large contact surface area of artefacts with the funerary burial soil causes wood corrosion, as recently observed for a statue attacked by fungi that caused the cracking and wrinkling of the wooden structures [7]. Wood protection, using biocides, is an important issue since physical and mechanical conservation practices are not efficient in removing deterioration-causing microorganisms. However, many commercial biocides are toxic, and unsafe to apply on archaeological pieces, since they can be hazardous for humans and ecosystems [8; 9]. Indeed, some artificial biocides used against fungal corrosion can be degraded by fungal enzymes [6]. The preservation of archaeological wood against microbial deterioration, using products safe for the health of restorers and museum personnel, is urgent to save them from microbial damage. A growing interest in natural substances is observed in the field of restoration, because they are, in their usual doses of application, safer compared to many traditional biocides, both due to changing regulations and the phenomenon of increasing resistance of many microorganisms to biocides [9; 10]. Essential oils (EOs), which are a complex mixture of odorous and volatile compounds, and other plant extracts, and which were used for a long time as natural antisteps, are natural products that can exhibit a broad spectrum of biocide activities [9; 10]. EOs are known for their natural components (e.g., monoterenes, diterpenes, and hydrocarbons) with various functional groups, and they have been studied for their antifungal activities [9; 10; 11; 12]. Some compounds, such as thymne, eugenol, and cinnamon were widely tested, and much data appear to suggest the antifungal properties of most EOs against wood-decaying fungi, so they are applied as effective wood-protecting agents [11; 12]. In fact, many essential oils can be applied for fungal infection prevention, with an antifungal activity greater than some commercial fungicides [13]. The use of phytochemicals to control microbes has been a practical and safe substitute for both human and ecological health [14; 15]. In general, plants are a rich source of various chemical compounds; secondary metabolites comprise up to 30% of the dry mass of plants and play an essential role in their protection against microbial pathogens [16]. Plant extracts are obtained from various plant parts including bark, leaves, fruits, flowers, buds, seeds, and wood [17]. The antifungal properties of various oils and plant extracts make them interesting as possible natural substances that can be utilized as alternative wood preservatives to prevent wood decay [11].