Introduction
In the world of textile and garment, finishing plays a vitalrole for quality and value. In the abundance of various finishes, importance isgiven to antimicrobial finish since people take much care about health andhygiene. Hygiene has acquired more importance in recent years. Natural fibresare more susceptible to bacterial attack than synthetic fibres due to theirporous and hydrophilic nature. The structure of natural fibers retains waterand oxygen along with nutrients, thereby offering optimal enrichment culturefor rapid multiplication of micro-organisms. On the other hand, direct contactwith human body supplies warmth, humidity and nutrients, i.e., provides a perfect environment and optimal conditions for bacterial growth. The most troublesomeorganisms are fungi and bacteria. Under very moist conditions algae can alsogrow on textiles. Fungi creates multiple problems to textile includingdiscoloration, stains and fiber damage, unpleasant odor and a slick, slimyfeel. Besides, structure of the substrate and the chemical processes may induce growth of microbes. Humid and warm environment further aggravates the problem.
The present research work is aimed at developing an eco-friendlyantimicrobial finish from neem and aloe vera plant for textile application. Theneem and aloe vera extracts are applied on cotton and silk fabric and a studyis conducted to assess the antimicrobial activity of the finished samples.
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