Study of Dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yuncker) as a Pharmaceutically Effective Natural Dyestuff Source

Nature has put into service abundant natural resources for human use. In this study, the potential of the dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yuncker) plant, which is abundant in nature and generally used for medicinal purposes, as a natural dye source in the textile dyeing industry for sustainable industrial production processes was investigated. Traditional methods were used in the dyeing experiments. KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O, FeSO₄·7H₂O, tangerine tree leaves (TTLs), and acorns were used as ecological mordants, and ZnSO₄·7H₂O, CuSO₄·5H₂O, SnCl₂·2H₂O, and K₂Cr₂O₇ were used as traditional mordants. In the study, TTLs were also tested as a bio-mordant for the first time. Additionally, using the ABTS and FRAP techniques, the total phenolic, total flavonoid, and antioxidant capabilities of methanol solutions of C. campestris were measured. The total flavonoid and phenolic contents of the plant were found to be 50.43 ± 1.54 mg QE/g and 230.53 ± 1.05 mg GAE/g, respectively. Besides, the UV-protective capacity of extracts was also tested, and a result of 8.14 was obtained. A spectrophotometer was also used to determine the CIE L^*a^*b^* and K/S spectral values of colored wool materials. Furthermore, tests on the dyed wool materials’ resistance to rubbing, washing, perspiration, and light fastness were also conducted. The fastness values of dyed fabrics were found to be 3–5 points, and these values fall within acceptable bounds. With this study, it is suggested that C. campestris, which is undesirable and abundant in agricultural areas, may be a source of natural dyestuffs in the dyeing of woolen fabrics in textile dyehouses.