Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity, antimutagenic and anticancer effects and dyeing properties of the fermented indigo extract. The methanol extract of fermented indigo showed a strong inhibition effect on Trich. mentagrophytes and antimutagenic activities against aflatoxin B$_1$(AFB$_1$) in the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium TA 100. We also found in vitro anticancer effects of the methanol extract of fermented indigo and it was evaluated by using Clone M-3 mouse melanoma cells and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells and exerted little cytotoxity against 3T3-L1 embryo fibroblast cell. In the relationship between the K/S values of cotton and silk fabrics dyed with fermented indigo and dyeing repeating times, the K/S values became higher as the repeating times were increased. The K/S values were high when the fabrics were dyed at low temperture. The K/S values of cotton fabrics were higher than those of silk fabrics. Changes of surface color of silk fabrics were higher than those of cotton fabrics after water fastness test, laundering, irradiation and treatment of acidic and alkaline perspiration.