Development of Herbal Nano-Finished Cotton Fabric Using Azadirachta indica and Ocimum basilicum Extracts for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Skin Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

The development of eco-friendly antimicrobial textiles has gained significant attention due to the increasing demand for sustainable healthcare materials. The present study investigates the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil) and their application in cotton fabric to produce functional medical textiles. Phytochemical screening of the plant extracts confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids, which play a key role in the reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles. The formation of nanoparticles was initially indicated by a visible color change and further confirmed through UV–Visible spectroscopy, showing a characteristic absorption peak at 470.9 nm. Structural and compositional characterization using FT-IR, SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses confirmed the morphology, elemental composition, and crystalline nature of the synthesized nanoparticles. The antioxidant potential evaluated using the DPPH assay revealed concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, the nanoparticle-coated cotton fabric demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Physical tests including stiffness, crease recovery, abrasion resistance, yarn count, and thickness indicated that the nanosynthesis treatment preserved the structural integrity and durability of the cotton fabric. Overall, the study highlights the potential of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles as a sustainable approach for developing multifunctional antimicrobial textiles with promising applications in medical and healthcare sectors.