The graviola plant is used as a medicinal plant in its tropical homeland.

Graviola active ingredients for health and sustainability

In natural medicine, the leaves of the tropical graviola tree (Annona muricata) are used to improve wellbeing and treat numerous diseases. The effect of the graviola plant is mainly due to the active ingredientsit contains, the so-called acetogenins. The extraction, preparation and use of these active ingredients for sustainable textile applications in the field of health and wellness have not yet been the subject of research yet.

Development of innovative textiles

The aim of the “Graviola” project was to develop new types of functionalised textiles using active ingredients from the graviola plant. The application of the active ingredients was analysed in two different ways: direct finishing of the textiles with different coating systems containing graviola active ingredients, and application of microcapsules smaller than 100 microns loaded with acetogenins. The microcapsuleswere incorporated into suitable binder systems and applied to knitted and nonwoven fabrics. The microencapsulation of the graviola extract ensures that the active ingredient is released over a defined period of time. Essential textile properties such as colour fastness, water resistance, rub fastness and human ecological requirements were taken into account. By incorporating aqueous microcapsule suspensions into suitable binder systems, the microcapsules were fixed in such a way that problem-free processability of the textile material is guaranteed and the release of the active ingredient can be maintained over a defined period of time.

Due to their anti-inflammatory and health-promoting effects, textiles treated with graviola ingredients offer a wide range of dermatological applications in the wellness and health sector as well as sustainable use in the textile life cycle.