ABSTRACT
Associate Professor, Department of Fashion Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. E-mail:krishnassstyle@gmail.com
3.1 Introduction Vetiver (Chrysopogonzizanioides, previously Vetiveria zizanioides) is a perennial grass and native to India. Vetiver can grow up to 1.5 m high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and rather rigid. Vetiver’s roots grow downward, 2-4 m in depth. Vetiveria zizanioidesis profoundly
used in Ayurvedic medicine. The chemical constituents present in the plant are Vetiverol, Vetivone, Khusimone, Khusimol, Vetivene, Khositone, Terpenes, Benzoic acid,Tripene-4-ol, β-Humulene, Epizizianal, Vetivenylvetivenate, iso-khusimol, β-vetivone, vetivazulene. Ayurvedic literature mentioned that plant is used as digestive, carminative stomachic, constipating, haematinic, expectorant, anti-spasmodic, anti-asthmatic, anti-gout, anthelmentic, anti-microbial and diuretic. Nowadays, uses of natural fibre as reinforcing materials have grown rapidly. Thousands of articles related in this subject have been published since 1995. Productions of natural fibres such as flax, sisal, and jute as reinforcement for polymer composites have been commercialised. Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites have been introduced into interior part of automobiles. Vetiver fibre was one of natural fibres from leaves. They are lignocellulosic bio composites comprising α-cellulose-type-I, hemicellulose, lignin and low-molecular weight compounds. Their main component is α-cellulose in nature. Vetiver has many end uses such as are aromatic, anti-fungal, cooling, anti-emetic, diaphoretic, haemostatic, expectorant, diuretic, stimulant, hysteria, insomnia, skin diseases, asthma, amentia, amenorrhoea, anti-spasmodic, kidney problems, gall stones, mosquito repellent , tonic and antioxidant. Vetiver fibre has been found to have better anti-microbial properties under laboratory conditions. It has been found that this fibre gives bacterio-static and fungi-static properties against pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and also it has the good inhibition against bacteria and will prevent the growth of bacteria. This vetiver also gives pleasant odour because of its inherent aroma characteristics. Hence the present investigation aims at developing anti-microbial healthcare products by using Vetiveria zizanioides extract.
