Mirabilis Jalapa L, Its Potential and Use As Source Of Natural Dyes for Textile Material

"Kembang pukul empat" or Mirabilis Jalapa L is a seasonal small plant (bush), 50-80 cm high. Its leaves contain saponin, flavonoida and tannin which is very useful as source for natural dyes. Flavonoida, especially flavonol, is one of benzene derivatives that can be used to dye textile material. We used the extract from the leaves of "kembang pukul empat" to dye cotton, nylon, polyester, and acrylic to study its dyeing properties. Cloth of cotton, nylon, polyester and acrylic were immersed in the extract solution at boiling temperature for 1 hour, and was subsequently aftertreated with FeSO4, salt yellow, alum, and potassium bichromate at 80°C for 15 minutes. Cotton and polyester is slightly stained whereas nylon and acrylic is highly coloured. The dyeing shows good washing as well as good rubbing fastness. The dye identification shows that the dye obtained from the extract of Mirabilis Jalapa L belongs to the acid dyes group. We also obtained some powder out of the extract. (Indri Eka Putri, Noerlina, Prihartini)