PARTHENIUM LEAF EXTRACT MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 30, 2009 --

Scientists at Nanophosphor Application Centre, University of Allahabad came up with a novel approch towards parthenium weed utilization. The mostneeded outcome of this work will be the development of value-added products from Parthenium for biomedical and nanotechnology based industries. The obnoxious weed Parthenium popularly known as Congress weed was accidentally introduced in India in around 1956 and has since spread over most part of the country.Parthenium now occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical America from southern United States of America to southern Brazil and to Northern Argentina. It causes contact dermatitis in livestock and is reported to be poisonous to sheep. Humans are also affected by this weed with respiratory malfunction and dermatitis. Main toxin responsible for the effect is Parthenin. Although Parthenium plant is considered as undesirable plant, Vyom Parashar one of the key person in scientists team at Nanophosphor Application Centre, University of Allahabad is the first to report its use in synthesizing silver nanoparticles, which can provide a new platform to this noxious plant making it a value added weed for nanotechnology based industries in future.