Assessment of antimicrobial activity of selected plant extracts for application on textiles

Abstract

The increasing awareness of public about various ill effects of microorganisms on human health, there is an increasing demand for natural antibacterial materials for development of eco-friendly textiles for health care and hygiene application. Plants have been a valuable source of natural products and are known to be chemically balanced, effective and least injurious with none or reduced side effects as compared to synthetic compounds. The present study was undertaken to investigate the preliminary antimicrobial properties of ten plant sources against S. aureus (gram +) and E. coli (gram -) bacteria. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of each plant were tested for their antibacterial performance using agar well diffusion method. The results indicated that all the ten plants exhibited antibacterial activity against selected bacteria. The yield of extraction in both the solvents varied from 40ml to 46 ml/50ml of extract. Jamun leaves exhibited maximum yield of extract (46ml/50 ml). Maximum phenolic content was found in ethanol extract of neem leaves i.e. 482.01 mg GAE/g and lowest phenolic content was found in bael leaves i.e. 11.14 mg GAE/g. Safeda and bael leaves extracts in 70% ethanol exhibited higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus (23mm, 20mm, respectively) and E. coli. (20mm, each).