www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY ANTIBACTERIAL AND UV PROTECTIVE FINISH ON COTTON USING SYZYGIUM CUMINI (L.) LEAVES EXTRACT VANDANA GUPTA 1 , DEEPIKA CHAUDHARY 2 , SALONI GUPTA 3 & NIRMAL YADAV 4 1 Department of Fashion & Design, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, India 2 Department of Microbiology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India 3 Department of Environmental Science and Engg, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, (Haryana), India 4 Department of Textile and Apparel Design, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to develop antibacterial and UV protective cotton fabric by using plant extract. Syzygium cumini (L.) leaves extract was extracted through soxhlet method and was applied on cotton fabric by using pad dry cure process. Phytochemical analysis of S. cumini (L.) leaves extract indicated presence of tannin, flavonoids, saponin and phenols and exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria with zone of inhibition of (6.0 – 11.16 mm for B. subtilis and 4.83 -10.0 mm for S. aureus) and sun protective property with 23.91 – 25.01 SPF value at different concentrations. Cotton fabric finished with S. cumini (L.) leaves extract exhibited improvement in bacterial resistance with per cent reduction in the bacterial count of the finished fabric by 95.67% for S. aureus and 94.70% for B. subtilis as well as exhibited high UPF value (48.1), providing excellent protection when compared to untreated control fabric. It can be concluded that the S. cumini (L.) leaves extract contains medicinal potential and not only provides protection from environmental hazard but also safeguards the environment, prevents pollution and promotes eco-friendly textiles. KEYWORDS: Antibacterial, Cotton Fabric, Syzygium cumini (L.) & Ultraviolet Protection Factor Received: Dec 23, 2016; Accepted: Jan 20, 2017; Published: Jan 25, 2017; Paper Id.: IJTFTFEB20175 INTRODUCTION Adaptation of clothing for covering our bodies pre-dates to the historic age. Clothes have fulfilled a variety of functions, ranging from primarily awarding protection, warmth as well as being a symbol of fashion statement. In recent years, due to aggravation in health related issues, the collaboration between medical personnel and textile chemistry technologies has led to the evolution of innovative medico-functional applications for textiles. Such applications include the addition of pharmaceutical herbal ingredients into the clothing, which then protect the skin and human body from environmental hazards such as UV rays and microbes. Cotton being a natural fiber offers an ideal environment for microbial growth (Salah, 2011) because it retains oxygen, water and nutrients as well as reported to provide least UV protection 8 . Many chemical substances such as viz., triclosan, quarternay ammonium compounds which acts as antimicrobial agents and UV protective agents viz., titanium dioxide and ceramic materials are available for textile finishing (Hussain and Jahan, 2010; Thilagavathi and Kannaian, 2010). However, due to their synthetic nature, natural products in textile finishing are gaining significant momentum (Lee et al., 2009). Use of plant extracts not only provides protection from environmental hazard but also safeguards the environment, prevents pollution and promotes eco-friendly textiles. Use of such products also ensures the health benefits to the individual as well as the masses. Such textiles prevent pollution by avoiding the Original Article International Journal of Textile and Fashion Technology (IJTFT) ISSN(P): 2250-2378; ISSN(E): 2319-4510 Vol. 7, Issue 1, Feb 2017, 53-62 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.