Wood industry byproduct lignin found effective against viruses and bacteria
Date: 15.8.2025
Research from the Nanoscience Center of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, has revealed that lignin, a polyphenol important for plant structure, has antimicrobial activity against viruses and bacteria.
The results highlight that lignin, which is also an important byproduct of the wood industry, has potential as a promising green alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents for coating agents, packaging material, or surface disinfectants.
The University of Jyväskylä study used a simple water-based extraction method, in which lignin was isolated in high purity from birch chips, wheat straw and oat husks. The method allows the products to maintain a high total phenol content and effectively remove carbohydrate impurities.
"We revealed that these aqueous-based lignin samples demonstrated strong antiviral efficacy against non-enveloped enteroviruses but also good activity against enveloped coronaviruses and tested bacteria," says Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology Varpu Marjomäki from the University of Jyväskylä.
Image source: University of Jyväskylä.
