Development of a bioactive fabric using dye extracts from selected indigenous medicinal plant species.

Abstract

In this context, the antimicrobial activity of 100% plain woven scoured and bleached cotton fabric sample, and 100% degummed and bleached hand knitted fabric dyed with the extracts from Aloe Vera, Bidens Pilosa; Datura stramonium, Ricinus. Communis and Galinsoga Parviflora plant species was investigated against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus (grampositive bacterial) and pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram- negative bacteria). The dye extracts from medicinal plants were added onto both fabric samples using post mordanting method with two mordants vis Alum and Iron II Sulphate. The present study has revealed the importance of using natural dyed fabrics to control antibiotic resistant bacteria, which have been a threat to human health and posed noticeable challenges confronted with medical physicians in the treatment of many infectious diseases. Among the five plant species, only four that is, Aloe Vera, Bidens Pilosa, Datura stramonium and Ricinus. Communis showed positive results on both fabric samples against the two selected bacteria strains.

Keywords: Bioactive, Medicinal plants, Antimicrobial activity, pseudomonas aeruginoso and Staphylococcus aureus