Dyeing of protein fabrics exploring locally available weed plants

In the present study weed plants i.e. Lantana camara, Solanum nigrum, Eupatorium adenophorum, Tridax procumbens, Parthenium histerophorus, Sida acuta, Ipomea cairica, Rumex nepalensis, Eclipta prostrate, Girardinia diversifolia, Erigeron bellidioides, Bidens pilosa and Athatoda vasica available in hilly as well as Tarai regions of Uttarakhand were collected, dried and powdered. The powdered dye materialswere extracted in distilled water. Subsequently dyeing of wool and silk fabrics was carried out. It was found that various plants like E. adenophorum, R. nepalensis and B. pilosa gave acceptable colour on silk and wool fabric. Therefore some weed plants can be used for textile dyeing which will provide a scope for management of weed plants as well as safety of other useful indigenous plant