Antibacterial Activity of Cationised Cotton Dyed with Some Natural Dyes

The present study was taken up as an exploratory study to test if some natural dyes have inherent antimicrobial activity with a view to develop protective clothing using these natural dyes. For enhancing the dyeability of cotton fabric with natural dyes, three cationising agents namely; Monochloro-S-Triazine, Quat 188 and Solfix E were used. Four natural dyes namely; Madder, Logwood, Cutch and Chelidonium majus were tested against common pathogens Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus favus and Candida albicans. Chelidonium majus dye was most effective and showed maximum zone of inhibition there by indicating best antimicrobial activity against all the microbes tested. The color yield of dyed samples was evaluated using K/S measurements. The total difference ΔE CIE (L*, a*, b*) was also measured. The dyed samples were tested to washing, acid and alkaline perspiration, dry and wet rubbing and light fastness. The durability of the antibacterial effect of the dyed cotton fabric was measured after 5, 10 and 20 washing cycles.