Abstract
Natural dyes are obtained from plants, insects,
lichens, fungus and molluscs which have been used since ancient times. These
dyes have antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic and antihelmintic properties. Walnut
(Juglans regia L.), a species of Juglandaceae
family, is grown in Turkey. Green walnut shell has also antimicrobial functions
due to its juglone components known as one of the strongest antimicrobial
chemical compound. In this study, alum-mordanted and unmordanted silk fabrics
were dyed with green walnut shell. Concentration was varied at 50, 100, 150 and
200 % owf (weight of fabric), in order to assess antimicrobial properties of
green walnut shell. Pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus
aureus subsp. aureus (ATCC 29213) and Escherichia
coli (ATCC 25922) were used to test for fabrics’ antimicrobial activities.
Reductions of bacterial growth were determined using AATCC test methods. All
the fabrics which were dyed with green walnut shell indicated antimicrobial
effect on both bacteria species. Antimicrobial effect was increased from 50 to
200 % owf (weight of fabric) dye concentration. These results indicated that
unmordanted silk fabrics dyed with green walnut shell had antimicrobial effect
as high as alum-mordanted silk fabrics dyed with green walnut shell and S.aureus were more sensitive than E.coli.