| Additives are external agents, which are added to a process or a product in order to add or eliminate specific characteristics and render a process or product more suitable for specified purposes. Additives are, therefore, ubiquitous and are an integral part of almost all industries and processes. In recent decades, artificial and toxic additives have almost completely replaced safe and natural alternatives which have in many cases been traditionally used for centuries.;In this study, grapefruit seeds, mango seeds, mango peel, dandelion flower, dandelion leaves, buttercup flower and buttercup leaves have been experimented to test their antibacterial as well as color-yielding properties.;According to this research, natural grapefruit seed extract showed the highest level of antibacterial activity amongst the tested plant samples. In all of the experiments done in this research, grapefruit seed extract reduced the total bacteria count of water samples to almost one third of the original count. Treatment of sewage water with air-dried grapefruit seed extract for instance reduced the total sample bacteria count form an initial value of 45171 to an aver4ge value of 16358 after a 10-hour period. Grapefruit seed extract could be dried and made into a tablet form and have a number of commercial applications. Following grapefruit seed extract, dandelion flower extract had the highest activity. For this extract the total bacteria count for sewage in a spring water medium was reduced from the initial value of 45171 to 40954 after a 10-hour period.;Regarding color extraction, yellow colors extracted form fresh flowers of dandelion and buttercup are natural colors which were stable in the 1-week test period and also showed acceptable affinity for natural wool and could be used in commercial products.;Antibacterial and color additives are two of the most important additives that are widely used in the industry. This study is aimed at finding natural and safe antibacterial and color additives for human consumption. These additives are free from short and long-term toxicity and other adverse side effects. |
