Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Plant Extracts for Textile Applications

Aims: To carry out the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and assess the antimicrobial activity of banyan (Ficus benghalensis), castor (Ricinus communis) and clerodendron (Clerodendron inerme) leaf extracts.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Textile and Apparel Designing, College of Community Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, between July 2014 and June 2017.

Methodology: Extraction of phytochemicals was carried out by different solvents viz., 70% ethanol, 70% methanol and distilled water. The phytochemical screening was carried out for the presence of various bio-active constituents according to standard procedures. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay method. Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts of plants was assessed by agar well diffusion method.

Results: The qualitative screening revealed the presence of constituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols and saponins in all the leaf extracts. However, terpenoids were absent in banyan leaf extracts. Irrespective of solvents, castor extracts yielded higher total phenols followed by banyan and clerodendron extracts. Further, the antibacterial activity of the crude ethanol extract of castor against bacterial species viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and fungal strain, Aspergillus niger showed highest antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to banyan and clerodendron extracts.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the results has provided the basis for use of banyan, castor and clerodendron extracts as potential agents for applying antimicrobial finish to textiles. Hence, there is a need to explore the applicability of these plant resources which are rich in phytochemicals/phenolics and may have beneficial effects on health.