Deodorizing Performance and Antibacterial Properties of Fabric Treated with Pomegranate and Gallnut Extracts Compared with Properties of Commercial Deodorizing and Antibacterial Agents

We compared the ability of pomegranate and gallnut extracts to protect fabrics against odors and bacteria with the deodorizing and antibacterial efficacy of two commer- cial deodorizing and antibacterial agents. Cotton, silk, or wool fabric was treated with pomegranate extract, gallnut extract, or one of two commercial deodorizing and antibac- terial agents, F or D. The fabrics were tested for their ability to withstand the odor of ammo- nia, trimethylamine, acetaldehyde, or acetic acid, and their antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus. We analyzed the volatile components in pomegranate extract, gallnut extract, F, and D using gas chromatography-mass spectrom- etry. We found more acidic volatile components in the pomegranate and gallnut extracts than in F and D. In contrast, there were more cyclo compounds in the volatile materials of F and D than in the pomegranate or gallnut extracts. The fabrics treated with pomegranate or gallnut extract showed a greater ability to withstand odors than those treated with F or D. However, the fabrics treated with F showed a greater ability to withstand acetic acid odors than did the fabric treated with pomegranate extract, gallnut extract, or D. The anti- bacterial properties of fabric treated with pomegranate extract, gallnut extract, and F was found to be excellent (bacteriostatic reduction rate=99.9%). These results suggest that pomegranate and gallnut extracts have strong potential to be used as multi-functional agents, with both showing excellent deodorizing and antibacterial properties.