Natural Dye-Yielding Plants from the Rubiaceae Family

Abstract

Natural dyes were used in the remote past in various fields of life. Even though the earliest dyes were discovered accidentally, constant experimentation and development have refined the art of dyeing. Even from Mohenjodaro, clothes dyed with plant extracts were discovered, which points to the use of herbal dyeing during the Indus Valley civilization. The existence of natural dyes was annulled by the invention of synthetic dyes at the beginning of the 19^th century, but still, natural dyes keep supremacy due to their unique eco-friendly and biodegradable prospects. It is to be foreseen that the natural dyes are producing less intense colours and are more prone to poor light, wash and rub fastnesses. The fastness property can be improved by using different mordants, and mordanting methods during the dyeing process. Manufacturers abstained from the usage of organic dyes because these were obtained at extremely small quantities from their sources as well as the expense of extraction. In this paper, the most commonly used natural dyeing plants from the rubiaceae family, their extraction, and application were discussed.