To investigate the antibacterial functionality of natural colorant extracts, five kinds of natural dying aqueous solutions were obtained by extraction from peony, pomegranate, clove, Coptis chinensis and gallnut using water at 90 °C for 90 min with a liquor ratio (solid natural colorant material/water, weight ratio) of 1:10. The colorimetric assay and antibacterial activity of cotton, silk, and wool fabrics dyed with these natural colorant extracts were examined. It was found that these properties were significantly dependent on the structure of colorant and the kind of fabrics. The hues (H) of all fabrics dyed with these natural colorants were in the range of 6.05YR -1.95Y. The order of value (V) was wool, silk and cotton. The chroma (C) of all samples was found to be at very low levels indicating the natural tone. All the fabrics dyed with the five natural colorants (peony, pomegranate, clove, Coptis chinensis and gallnut) extracts displayed excellent antibacterial activity (reduction rate: 96.8 - 99.9%) against Staphylococcus aureus. However, in the case of Klebsiella pneumoniae, the antibacterial activity was found to depend on the kind of natural colorant extract used.

To investigate the toxicity, protective effects, and action mechanism of gallotannin-enriched extracts isolated from Galla Rhois (GEGR) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice, alterations in serum biochemical indicators, histopathological structure, antioxidative status, hepatic apoptosis-related proteins, and liver fibrosis regulating factors were measured in mice pretreated with GEGR for five days before CCl₄ injection. The GEGR/CCl₄ treated group showed decreased levels of three serum marker enzymes (ALP, AST, and ALT) representing liver toxicity, although LDH levels remained constant. Necrotic area indicating hepatic cell death significantly inhibited, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression were dramatically recovered in the GEGR preadministrated group. In mechanism analyses of GEGR, the formation of active caspase-3 and enhancement of Bax/Bcl-2 expression was effectively inhibited in the GEGR/CCl₄ treated group. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, as well as the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK in the TNF-α downstream signaling pathway was rapidly recovered in the GEGR/CCl₄ treated group, while anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) increased slightly in the same group. Furthermore, the GEGR/CCl₄ treated group showed a significant decrease in collagen accumulation results from alleviation of MMP-2 expression, TGF-β1 secretion and the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Taken together, these results suggest that GEGR may induce remarkable protective effects against hepatic injury induced by CCl₄ treatment through upregulation of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant system.