Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(10): 2009-2022 2009 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.610.238 Optimization of Vetiver Root Extract for Textile Finishing Sakeena Naikwadi*, K.J. Sannapapamma and C.K. Venugopal Department of Textile and Apparel Designing, College of Rural Home Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Textile finishing is diversified sector due to the processed raw materials, manufacturing technique and products diversification. Trends in fashion cause continuous changes in colouring and functional finishes from the natural substrates comprises of those substances that are obtained from plants and animals possessed many advantages such as non-toxic, non-irritant, biodegradable, cost effective, easy availability (Christie and Sangeetha, 2016). Vetiveria zizanioides belonging to the family Poaceae also known as Khas Khas, Khas or Khus grass is native to India. Vetiveria derived from Tamil word “Vetiver” meaning “root that is dug out” and zizanioides means “by river side”. As the name indicates, it is most commonly found along the water beds. Vetiver is a tall, tufted, perennial, scented grass, with a straight stem, long narrow leaves and erect culms up to 2 meters height and over 2.5 meters with flower head. The roots have a lacework root system are abundant, complex and extensive. The roots of Vetiveria zizanioides contain essential/volatile oil, known as Vetiver oil or „khus oil‟. Vetiver oil is used in traditional medicine and perfumery International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 10 (2017) pp. 2009-2022 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Vetiver root has many end uses in ayurveda and textile finishing. It is multifunctional bio resource widely available in Karnataka. The present study is designed to optimize the vetiver root extract for textile finishing. The Gulabi variety vetiver root was powdered by traditional pounding technique and powder of varied concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 %) were subjected to aqueous and ethanol extraction. The extracts were subjected to bio-assay method for antimicrobial efficiency. Based on the maximum inhibition zone ethanolic extract (8 %) was optimized for textile finishing. The scoured and bleached organic cotton fabric was treated with vetiver root extract by exhaust and pad dry cure method and assessed for antimicrobial efficiency. The diethyl pathalate was the major compound present in vetiver root extracts resulted by GC-MS spectral analysis which contributes to many functional properties. The treated organic cotton fabric possessed good antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. The tactile properties of treated samples were improved and became smooth in handle, pliable in texture, even in appearance and moderate change in colour. Hence, the vetiver root extract is suitable for functional finishing of textile and these finished textiles can be used for home, medical and healthcare textiles. Keywords Vetiver root extract, Organic cotton fabric, GCMS, Bio- assay method, Parallel streak method, Exhaust and Pad dry cure method of finishing. Accepted: 17 September 2017 Available Online: 10 October 2017 Article Info