A STUDY ON THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF THE COTTON FABRIC IMPARTED WITH MICHAELIA CHAMPACA LEAF EXTRACT LOADED NANOPARTICLES

In the present work ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform and benzene extract of the Michaelia champaca leaves were screened for their antimicrobial activity.  The ethanolic extracts of M. champaca leaves were proved to have the maximum antimicrobial activity; thus the ethanolic leaf extract was selected and the nanoparticles were synthesized using ionic gelification method. The nanoparticles were characterized physically and chemically using TEM and FTIR respectively. The herbal extract loaded nanopartricles were coated on to the non woven cotton fabric using the pad dry cure method. The antimicrobial activity of the untreated and treated (M. champaca leaf extracts coated fabric and leaf extract loaded nanoparticles coated fabric) fabric were assessed by the standard AATCC 147, AATCC 30 and laundering durability. The herbal leaf extract loaded nanoparticles coated fabric showed the better antimicrobial activity and particularly highest wash durability when compared with other treated fabric. The controlled and sustained releasing property of the herb extract loaded nanoparticles could be attributed to its very effective antimicrobial activity. These particles could further have numerous applications in the field of medical textiles. The study revealed that the fabric coated with herbal extract loaded nanoparticles could act against microorganism in the fabric.