Antifungal and antibacterial treatments based on natural compounds for lining leather and footwear articles

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to obtain antifungal and antibacterial treatments based on natural compounds of essential oils of geranium, pine, and rosemary for cotton and leather linings to make leather, fur articles, and footwear. The main characteristic absorption bands for the functional groups of geranium, pine and rosemary essential oils were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR). Microbiological antifungal test was performed in the presence of Candida albicans ATCC 10231 fungus and antibacterial activity was determined in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (Gram-positive bacteria), and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (Gram-negative bacteria). The absorption method involved the inoculation of the bacteriological test inoculum directly on the treated samples. Microbiological tests have revealed a high antifungal and antibacterial activity of the essential oils of Aetheroleum pini sylvestris, Aetheroleum geranii, Rosmarinus officinalis on cotton and leather linings and the possibility to be used in various compositions for the treatment of different lining materials for gloves, caps, shoes or other articles with essential bioactive properties for health and environmental protection.