Dyeing of cotton and wool fibres with pigments from Crocus Sativus - Effect of enzymatic treatment

Natural pigments from Crocus sativus stigmas were used for the dyeing of cotton and wool fibres after treatment with the enzymes α-amylase and trypsin, respectively. The separation of various compounds and pigment constituents of the stigmas was effected by fractionation of the methanolic extract on a silica gel column, and the use of these fractions for dyeing is described. The dyeing properties of the fractions were compared with those of commercial trans-β-carotene. Wash and light fastness of the dyed samples after the enzymatic pretreatment were also studied.