Antimicrobial Finishing of Denim Fabrics with Herbal Extracts

Aim: 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.