title: Comparison of UV Protection Properties of Cotton Fabrics Treated with Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Alhagi maurorum Plants.
abstract: UV radiations are high-energy radiations present in sunlight that can damage human skin. Protection against these radiations becomes vital especially in those areas of the globe where UV index is quite high that makes the inhabitants more prone to dangerous effects of UV radiations. Clothing materials are good blockers of UV radiations, particularly when the fabric cover factor is high and/or the fabrics contain suitable UV-blocking finishes. In this study, effect of application of aqueous and methanolic extracts of two different plants, i.e., Achyranthes aspera and Alhagi maurorum on UV protection properties of cotton fabric was investigated. The results showed that the fabric samples treated with extracts of both the plants have excellent UV protection properties as indicated by their ultraviolet protection factor. It was concluded that both the aqueous and methanolic plant extracts are very effective in blocking UVA and UVB radiations, when applied on cotton fabrics. The UV protection performance of Achyranthes aspera extracts was much better as compared to that of Alhagi maurorum, and methanolic extracts of both the plants outperformed the aqueous extracts in terms of UV protection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Asad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Government College Women University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Qasim
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Faizan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usman
mesh_terms: D029044:Achyranthes / Q000737:chemistry*; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013784:Textiles; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts