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The article presents a literature review of the plant origin natural compounds with biocidal properties. These compounds could be used as modifiers of biodegradable materials. Modification of polymer material is one of the basic steps in its manufacturing process. Biodegradable materials play a key role in the current development of materials engineering. Natural modifiers are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and renewable. The substances contained in natural modifiers exhibit biocidal properties against bacteria and/or fungi. The article discusses polyphenols, selected phenols, naphthoquinones, triterpenoids, and phytoncides that are natural antibiotics. Due to the increasing demand for biodegradable materials and the protection of the natural environment against the negative effects of toxic substances, it is crucial to replace synthetic modifiers with plant ones. This work mentions industries where materials containing natural modifying additives could find potential applications. Moreover, the probable examples of the final products are presented. Additionally, the article points out the current world’s pandemic state and the use of materials with biocidal properties considering the epidemiological conditions.

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The aim of this article is to discuss in detail the physicochemical properties of polylactide (PLA) reinforced by cortex fibers, which may cause bacterial mortality and increased biodegradation rates. PLA biocomposites containing cortex Lapacho fibers from Tabebuia (1–10 wt %) were prepared by extrusion and injection moulding processes. The effects of Lapacho on the mechanical and biocidal properties of the biocomposites were studied using tensile and impact tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), and the method of evaluating the antibacterial activity of antibacterial treated according to the standard ISO 22196:2011. It also presented the effects of Lapacho on the structural properties and biodegradation rates of biocomposites. This research study provides very important results complementing the current state of knowledge about the biocidal properties of Lapacho from Tabebuia plants and about cortex-reinforced biocomposites.

The paper presents the result of the research on the impact of the accelerated aging process on selected operational properties of polylactide films containing natural antioxidants in the form of coffee, cocoa or cinnamon extracts. The research was focused on mechanical properties important for the packaging industry from the point of view of the reliability of the obtained products, i.e. tensile strength, relative deformation at maximum stress, relative deformation at break, Young's modulus, impact strength and storage module at various temperatures. The extracts have a positive effect on the determined mechanical properties. The obtained results were very often better not only than the values obtained for pure polymer, but also better than the values obtained for the film containing the synthetic anti-aging compound. It can therefore be concluded that the proposed plant extracts will have a positive effect on the stability of the mechanical properties of the manufactured products, which will allow long-term, reliable and safe operation of packaging. Proposed extracts can therefore be an alternative to the previously used synthetic anti-aging additives.