Antimicrobial Finishing of Denim Fabrics with Herbal Extracts
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Herbs play a significant role in pharmaceutical industries as life saving drugs. This calls for the
discovery of new antimicrobial compounds with diverse chemical structures and novel mechanisms of action. The
present study focuses on imparting antimicrobial finish to the denim fabric using natural herbal extracts.
Methodology: Three herbs, Ricinus communis. Senna auriculata and Euphorbia hirta were screened for their
antimicrobial efficiency by finishing the methanolic extracts of these herbs on the denim fabric by qualitative test
method EN ISO 20645. The combinatorial antimicrobial efficiency (1:3:2) of these extracts were studied and
confirmed quantitatively by performing AATCC 100 test method. The antifungal activity was tested according to
AATCC 30 test method. Results: The combinatorial ratio (1:3:2) showed 98% bacterial reduction against
Escherichia coli and 99% against Staphylococcus aureus. Same ratio also showed 100% mycelial reduction against
Aspergillus niger. Conclusion: The combinatorial antibacterial activities of the selected three herbs showed
excellent results compared to the individual finishing.