ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF KNITTED FABRICS TREATED WITH HERBAL EXTRACTS
In this paper we examined the effect of plasma pretreatment on the structure and antimicrobial properties of knitted fabrics (100% cotton, 100% bamboo and 50% cotton/50% bamboo) treated with alcoholic herbal extracts of Achillea millefolium L. and Reynoutria japonica Houtt. The influence of water vapour plasma pretreatment on the surface functionalization or change of the structure of the knitted fabrics is evaluated with SEM. Antimicrobial properties of knitted fabrics treated with herbal extracts were tested on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by using the parallel streaking method (AATCC TM 147-2004). The degree of coloration was evaluated with CIELAB method and with stereomicroscope. It was found that the plasma pretreatment and processing with the herbal extract of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. had a positive impact on the antimicrobial activity of the knitted fabrics against Staphylococcus aureus.