Selected Aromatic Plants Extracts as an Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Finish for Cellulose Fabric- Direct Impregnation Method

Abstract

Six ethanolic extracts, obtained from anise, fennel, lavender, sage, mint, white horehound and their mixture were directly applied onto cellulose (viscose) fabric to impart antimicrobial and antioxidant functionality for its potential use as a wound dressing. Antimicrobial activity of treated fabrics against gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and yeast C. albicans, as common skin pathogens, was determined by agar diffusion test. The most effective against both microorganisms was viscose with anise, fennel, and mint, whereby clear inhibition and suppression zones were detected. The oxidation of viscose, intended to improve sorption properties and consequently adsorption of extracts, increased the antimicrobial activity of viscose with a mixture of extracts. The antioxidant activity of fabric samples with extracts, determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, was significantly higher when compared to the untreated viscose sample (2.38 %) and ranged from 11.82 % for viscose with fennel up to 87.71 % for viscose with sage. Oxidation of fabric before sorption of extracts mixture contributes to higher antioxidant activity (68.81 %). Direct impregnation of bioactive plants extracts onto the fabric represents low cost and simple method, which makes it suitable for obtaining eco-friendly, low-cost disposable medical textiles with the therapeutic and prophylactic role.