Potential new sources of natural dyes from the traditional pharmacopoeia of New-Caledonia

Nowadays interest is growing in finding nature friendly sustainable technologies which can be used as alternatives to fossil-based raw materials and energy. In this context, our laboratory recently began research programs to explore and learn local population plants usages to make a selection of “new” source of colorant. 74 plants were harverest and tested for their potentiality for dyeing different textile fibres. After evaluation of their color strength and color fastness to light and washing, 21 plants were selected for a chemical study. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy analysis and 2D NMR experiments are used to evaluate the separation potential of natural products and to determine the chemical structure of isolated compounds. Furthermore, 31 crude extracts from different parts of interest species were tested for antimicrobial, antitumoral and antioxidant activities. 7 extracts were found to have inherent activities against E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermis and C. albicans strains, one against KB cells and 10 out of 20 showed antioxidant activities. As a matter of fact, increasing our knowledge on plants and their traditional usages could lead to a development and a protection of natural and cultural inheritance.