Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Plant Extracts Films: Preparation, Surface Characterization and Antibacterial Studies against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

Abstract

In this study, we aim to obtain biomaterials with antibacterial properties by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) with the extracts obtained from various selected plants from Romania. Natural herbal extracts of freshly picked flowers of the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) and leaves of the peppermint plant (Mentha piperita), hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.), verbena plant (Verbena officinalis) and sage plant (Salvia officinalis folium) were selected after an intensive analyzing of diverse medicinal plants often used as antibacterial and healing agents from the country flora. The plant extracts were characterized by different methods such as totals of phenols and flavonoids content and UV-is spectroscopy. The highest amounts of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively, were recorded for Salvia officinalis. Moreover, the obtained films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with plant extracts were studied concerning the surface properties and their antibacterial or cytotoxicity activity. The Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared analysis described the successfully incorporation of each plant extract in the poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, while the profilometry demonstrated the enhanced surface properties. The results showed that the plant extracts conferred significant antibacterial effects to films toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and are not toxic against fibroblastic cells from the rabbit.

Bioactive and Physico-Chemical Assessment of Innovative Poly(lactic acid)-Based Biocomposites Containing Sage, Coconut Oil, and Modified Nanoclay

“…Slightly higher antimicrobial activity has been observed against S. aureus for almost all materials, similar findings being reported for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films containing sage extract or other medicinal plants. Among all the tested plants, sage proved to have the highest antimicrobial efficiency [ 49 ]. The variation in the antibacterial activity of the biocomposites might be due to the different active compounds in the structure of the S or CO incorporated into the PLA, by their diffusivity in the growth media, and by differences between the cell wall structures of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.…”

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Mucoadhesive Oral Films Loaded with Usnea barbata (L.) F. H. Wigg Dry Acetone Extract, with Potential Applications in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Complementary Therapy

“…Chiaoprakobkij et al [ 33 ] performed antibacterial studies on S. aureus and E. coli , counting the living bacterial cells on the films loaded with Garcinia mangostana L. extract. Other authors also selected S. aureus and E. coli for antibacterial activity evaluation of their poly(vinyl alcohol)/plant extracts films [ 112 ]. They measured the inhibition zone diameter (IZD), and the interpretation of the results used Poly (vinil alcohol) as a reference.…”

“…The highest values were registered as (++++ and +++)—Very good activity, followed, in decreasing order, by (++)—good activity and (+)—weak activity. The appreciation of their inhibitory activity was the most part, proving in qualitative mode this property of the films with plant extracts without using a standard antibiotic drug [ 112 ].…”

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol-Pullulan Scaffolds Loaded with Nepeta racemosa Lam. Essential Oil and Perspectives for Possible Applications

“…Following that, the mixtures (2 mL) were cast in different Petri dishes and dried for 2 h at 50 °C. Before characterization tests, the films were stored at a constant temperature (25 °C) in a humidity chamber for at least two days [ 81 ]. In Table 4 full data relating to the composition of PVA–pullulan film samples are listed.…”