Antimicrobial Finishing on Cotton and Khadi Fabric Using Neem Leaves (Azadirachta indica) Extract

Abstract

The present study was conducted in January, 2021 at NITRA, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of cotton and khadi fabrics treated with neem leaf extract. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a well-known medicinal plant belonging to the family Meliaceae and has been widely used in traditional practices for its healing, skin-protective, immunity-boosting and antimicrobial properties. Owing to its natural bioactive compounds, neem offers a promising eco-friendly alternative for developing functional textile finishes.In this study, neem leaves were extracted using methanol through the Soxhlet extraction method. The extracted neem finish was applied to bleached cotton and khadi fabrics using two techniques: direct application and microencapsulation. The untreated and treated fabric samples were tested against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, to assess their antimicrobial performance. Further characterization was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and wash durability testing.The results showed that neem-treated fabrics possessed noticeable antimicrobial activity. Among the two application methods, microencapsulation proved more effective, as it provided better retention of the neem extract on the fabric surface and maintained antimicrobial performance even after repeated washing. The microencapsulated cotton and khadi fabrics showed durable antimicrobial activity up to 25 washes, making this method more suitable than direct application for developing long-lasting herbal antimicrobial textiles.