Antimicrobial Activities of Some Natural Dyes and Dyed Wool Yarn

Natural dyes gained increasing attention due to environmental considerations. Many of the dye plants have also medicinal values. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 25 plants as dyes and their dyed wool yarns against microorganisms. Prokaryotes were found to be more sensitive to dye extracts than eukaryotic microorganisms and dyestuff from Punica granatum, Berberis vulgaris, Agrimonia eupatoria, Rhus coriaria were effective against all bacteria. Sarcina lutea, Bacillus subtilis, MRSA and Enterococcus faecalis were sensitive to almost all dye extracts even at low concentrations. The dyed wool material tested with microorganisms, and maximum inhibition rates were obtained against S. lutea and MRSA of wool samples dyed with P. granatum and R. coriaria, respectively, while there was a drastic decrease in E. faecalis growth with the A. cepa and R. petiolaris.