Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity of Fabrics Dyed with Viburnum opulus and Onion Skins
Int. J. Sec. Metabolite, Vol. 4: 3 (2017) pp. 280-284
Special Issue 1: Research Article
ISSN: 2148-6905 online
Journal homepage: http://www.ijate.net/index.php/ijsm
Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activity of Fabrics Dyed with Viburnum
opulus and Onion Skins
Handan ŞAPCI*1, Fazlıhan YILMAZ2, Cem VURAL3, M. İbrahim BAHTİYARİ2,
Hüseyin BENLİ4
Çukurova University, Vocational School of Aladağ, Forestry Department, Adana, Turkey
Erciyes University, Textile Engineering Department, Kayseri, Turkey
3
Erciyes University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Kayseri, Turkey
4
Erciyes University, Mustafa Çıkrıkçıoğlu Vocational School, Kayseri, Turkey
1
2
Received: 02 May 2017 – Revised: 11 June 2017 - Accepted: 18 July 2017
Abstract: Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can cause serious health and hygiene problems for this
reason, products with antimicrobial activity gains importance day by day. As is known, textile products can also
provide a suitable environment for the development of microorganisms. In this context, we aimed to develop textile
products which can provide antimicrobial and antifungal effect. For this purpose, woolen fabrics were dyed with
onion (Allium cepa) skins and juice of gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) plant fruit in our study. The dyeings were
carried out without using of any mordanting agent and no prior extraction of the herbal sources was carried out in
other words these natural dye sources (onion skins and juice of Viburnum opulus plant fruit) were directly added
to the dye bath. Samples after dyeing with these natural dye sources were tested in terms of antimicrobial activity
using two bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aeroginosa) and a yeast strain (Candida albicans). Meanwhile
the dyed samples were also investigated in terms of obtained colors. For this purpose, color measurement of the
dyed samples has been managed and color efficiencies and color values has been collected. After the evaluation
of the results, it was observed that onion (Allium cepa) skin and gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) fruit juice had an
antimicrobial effect. While the dyed fabric with Viburnum opulus juice showed higher activity on bacterial strains,
the onion skin had a higher effect on the yeast. Viburnum opulus provided the highest activity on E. coli, whereas
onion skins showed the highest activity on C. albicans. Meanwhile it was observed that different colors can be
obtained with the use of these tested natural dye sources
Keywords: Antimicrobial textiles, bacteria, biotechnology, fungi, natural dye.
1. INTRODUCTION
Natural dyes were used to colour a fiber or to paint. They may be found hidden in such
diverse places as the roots of a plant, a parasitic insect and the secretions of a sea snail [1].
Textile materials used to be colored for value addition, look and desire of the customers.
Anciently, this purpose of colouring textile was initiated using colors of natural source, until
synthetic colors/dyes were invented and commercialized [2]. In this study gilaburu fruit and
onion skin has been used for the coloration of wool fabrics and the anti-microbial/fungal
activities of the dyed samples have been analyzed.
*Corresponding Author E-mail:
ISSN: 2148-6905 online /© 2017
DOI: 10.21448/ijsm.372225
280
International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, Vol. 4: 3 (2017) pp. 280-284
Cranberry (Viburnum opulus L.), called gilaburu in the Middle-Anatolia region,
especially Kayseri city, Turkey and European cranberry bush in English, belonging to the plant
family of Caprifoliaceae, is widely distributed in Turkey [3]. Allium cepa is commonly called
onions and the bulb comprises fleshy layers of modified leaves, surrounded by papery outer
layers. Skin of Allium cepa which is a kitchen waste material can be used in natural dyeing of
different textile materials [4].
Textile goods, especially those made from natural fibers; provide an excellent
environment for microorganisms to grow, because of their large surface area and ability to
retain moisture [5]. Growing awareness of health and hygiene has increased the demand for
bioactive or antimicrobial textiles [6]. There is increasing interest in adding value to textiles by
the use of natural products. Many of the plants from which natural dyes are obtained are, for
example, also known to have medicinal properties [7]. It is easy to find different studies on the
usability of natural dye sources for ensuring the antimicrobial efficiencies. For example,
Davulcu et al. reported the antimicrobial efficiency of cotton fabrics dyed with thyme and
pomegranate peel without use of any mordanting agent [8]. In another study, Singh et al. have
studied on antimicrobial activity of different natural dye sources such as Acacia catechu, Kerria
lacca, Quercus infectoria, Rubia cordifolia and Rumex maritimus and tested the antimicrobial
efficiency of samples against some common pathogens. Finally they found different
antimicrobial efficiencies against the tested pathogens [9].
In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal
effect of fabrics dyed with the onion skin and juice of gilaburu fruit. By this way it was planned
to use a common waste “onion skin” and a regional plant “gilaburu”.
2. MATERIAL and METHODS
In the study woven wool fabrics, which were ready for dyeing processes and in the weight
of 160 g/m2, were used. As a natural dye source gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) plant fruits were
provided from the local markets in Kayseri. Onion skins which are vegetable waste were
selected as a second natural dye source. The dyeings were carried out without using of any
mordanting agent and no prior extraction of the selected herbal sources were carried out. In the
dyeing processes the juice of Viburnum opulus plant fruits and the milled onion skins were used
(Figure 1).
The milled onion skins
Fruits of Viburnum opulus plant
Figure 1. Natural dye sources used in coloration of wool
In the dyeing processes of wool fabrics with the Viburnum opulus plant fruit, the juice of
the fruits were obtained by squeezing the fruits, then for 2 g of textile material 100 ml of this
juice was used as a dye bath so a liquor ratio of 1:50 has been obtained. For the dyeings with
onion skins, the same amount of grinded onion skins with fabric were used and so for 2 g of
textile material 2 g grinded onion skins was added to 100 ml of the bath containing only water
to ensure the liquor ratio of 1:50. The dyeing process was carried out in a laboratory-type
sample dyeing machine. The dyeing was started at 40°C for 10 minutes then the bath was
281
Şapcı, Yılmaz, Vural, Bahtiyari & Benli
heated to 100°C and at 100°C dyeing was conducted for 1 hour. Afterwards, the dyed samples
were washed and subsequently dried at room temperature.
In order to evaluate the obtained colors, the color efficiencies (K/S) and the color values
(CIE L*a*b*) of the dyed samples were measured with Konica Minolta 3600d
spectrophotometer and (...truncated)