An Inventory of Dye-Yielding Plants Indigenous to Gujarat

An Inventory of Dye-Yielding Plants of Gujarat

Abstract

Gujarat harbors a remarkably rich biodiversity of angiosperms. Some of them produce colors, commonly known as dye-yielding plants. However, many plants remain unexplored for their dye-yielding capacity. The report is the first compilation using the state, and regional flora and published literature on the natural dye-yielding plant in Gujarat into a catalogue that reveal various information regarding the plants and the dyes. This archive records 210 dye-yielding plants belonging to 204 genera and 74 families, along with their vernacular name, plant parts, dye color, dye classification, and dye use. The Caesalpiniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Mimosaceae, and Asteraceae families constitute the highest species. The genera representing the highest number of species included Acacia, Bauhinia, Senna-Cassia, Terminalia, Ficus, and Indigofera. The plant parts- bark, flower, leaf, and fruit yielded most of the dyes. The majority of the dyes belong to Flavone, Tannin, Anthocyanin, and Anthraquinone classes. The dyes from plant resources are mainly explored as textile dyes, food colorants, cosmetic dyes, and mordants. The documented an indigenous catalogue is an addition to the knowledge of the dye-yielding plants and provides an opportunity for their sustainable usage.