Natural biocides and bio-calcite: innovative tools for cultural heritage

Research on the Sassi and Park of Rupestrian Churches in Matera, Italy, reveals promising eco-friendly alternatives for cultural heritage preservation. The study found that glycoalkaloids from plants like Solanum nigrum exhibit strong biocidal activity against bacterial strains colonizing stone surfaces, offering a safer alternative to traditional chemical treatments. Additionally, Bacillus bacteria native to the churches demonstrated significant calcinogenic potential, producing bio-calcite crystals coherent with the stone substrate, which could enhance consolidation efforts. This approach advocates for proactive, continuous monitoring and targeted interventions to prevent biodeterioration, shifting from reactive remediation to preventive conservation strategies.

Scrano, L., Laviano, R., Salzano, G., Santacroce, M., De Franchi, S. A., Baranek, J., & Bufo, S. A. (2020). Natural biocides and bio-calcite: innovative tools for cultural heritage. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 949(1), 12096. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/949/1/012096