Use of various plant extracts to provide hygiene in mattresses and antibacterial film production

Abstract

It has been known for many years that microorganisms can grow and proliferate on textilematerial. Other than clothes, the objects that humans mostly contact with are their mattresses. Inthis study, it was aimed to produce an antibacterial film in order to prevent growth andproliferation of various bacteria which are dangerous for human health in mattresses and to makemattresses hygienic since they cannot be changed in a short time. In the study, extracts were firstobtained from Saponaria officinalis L., Oxalis acetosella L., Althaea officinalis L., Lavandulaofficinalis L., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Thymus vulgaris L., Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrat Perry plants. The extracts were used individually and combined to form experimental groups.The antibacterial effects of the extracts were examined by disc-diffusion method applied onGram-positive rods, Gram-negative rods, Gram-positive cocci and Bacilli colonies obtained frommattresses. In addition, the colony counts were also carried out in total MAB culture. Based onthe results of the study, it was determined that S. aromaticum and L. officinalis + all extracts hadthe highest inhibitory effect. By using S. aromaticum extract, xanthan gum, propylene glycol,tween-20 and distilled water, an antibacterial film, which may provide long-term hygiene inmattresses, was produced. The obtained gel was lyophilized and made available for use. As aresult of this study, it was foreseen that with the development of the obtained product, 4-5million people (e.g., dorm, hospital, hotel) could be protected from the diseases transmitted frommattresses, the money spent on the chemicals used for hygiene and the damages caused by thesechemicals on human and environmental health could be reduced, mattresses used for longperiods of time could be made healthy, and mattresses can be made hygienic in a cost-effective,practical and natural manner.