Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of flax fibres impregnated with aloe gel extract

Abstract

The natural textile fibres are prone to be attacked by various micro organisms and provide room for their growth and infestation. Human being can easily be crops infected by these micro organisms. Natural antimicrobial and bioactive agents are available in plenty that will not harm the skin and are found to be very effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. To minimise the risk factor of microbial infections, the study was aimed to provide the natural flax waste fibres an antimicrobial efficiency that can stop the microbial infestation and their growth completely. Waste fibres from various spinning mills are either used in low grade fabrics or as filler into the beddings etc. which can easily attacked by microorganism which are available in environment everywhere. Fibres were treated with alovera gel extract in 10 different concentrations from 100 to 10% and tested for its microbial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and fungi. The samples were found to be very effective against these micro organisms.