EFFECTS OF CHITOSAN AND NEEM EXTRACTS FINISHED-COTTON FABRICS IN PREVENTION OF HUMAN SKIN INFECTIONS

Abstract

Cotton, as a natural cellulosic fibre, has a lot of good characteristics which make it a fabric of choice by many, but lacks any special antimicrobial function on its own. Textiles interact with the skin in a very intensive manner. Therefore, the microbes of the skin can influence the skin itself, the textiles, as well as the interaction between skin and textiles. In order to impart the required functional properties to the fabric, it is customary to subject it to appropriate finishing that is safe to consumers and the environments. The study evaluated the effects of chitosan and neem extracts finished-cotton fabrics in prevention of human skin infections. The research is an experimental one; the study activities took place at the laboratories and studios of the Departments of Chemistry, Microbiology and Industrial Design, respectively at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. Procured fabric was confirmed using burning and chemical solubility tests. Crab shells were obtained from Lagos Island Sea Food Market, Lagos State, Nigeria. The shells samples were converted to chitosan. On the other hand, quantities of neem leaf and bark were harvested from the University of Ibadan. The extracts were prepared using 70% Ethanol. Fabric treatment was carried out by exhaust finishing method. Chitosan; neem leaf and bark; and neem/chitosan composite extracts were dissolved with acetic and citric acids respectively at different concentrations. The treated fabric swatches were oven cured. The test microbes were grown in liquid cultures. Inoculated controls and test fabrics were incubated in sealed jars for 24 h. Thereafter, microbial concentrations were determined; reduction of microorganisms relative to initial concentrations and the control fabrics were calculated. The result shows that Chitosan, neem leaf and bark extracts were very effective against the test microbes:- Salmonella. typhi, Pseudomonas. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergilus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Microsporum gypseum. The bark extract showed better overall antimicrobial efficacy on the test microbes than the leaf extract. Citric acid offered better synergistic effects than acetic acid for cotton fabric chitosan/neem composite finishing. The extracts induced the least antimicrobial effects against Aspergillus fumigatus but showed remarkable inhibitory effects against Staphylococuus aureus, especially the composite of chitosan, leaf and bark extract (1:2:2) in citric acid showed the best reduction of 68.5%. The extracts were more effective on bacteria reduction as against fungi reduction. Finally, increase in concentration of the samples increased the percentage reduction recorded against the test microbes. Conclusively the study would help in the prevention of human skin infections if adopted for the production of clothing for various human uses.