Parthenium Hysterophorus

Purpose Parthenium hysterophorus is one among the most troublesome weeds at the global level. It is mainly controlled by chemical methods. The scientific community is in search of new but non-destructive approaches for its management. Vermicomposting is one among the promising technologies for the management of organic fraction of solid wastes. This study was undertaken to assess the vermicomposting of parthenium weed mixed with biogas plant slurry under laboratory conditions. Method Six different combinations of biogas plant slurry and parthenium were fed to worms in vermibins under controlled laboratory conditions for 60 days. Various physico-chemical parameters before and after vermicom-posting were evaluated. Worm biomass production was also monitored periodically during the experimentation period. Results The EC, TCa and NPK content increased significantly after vermicomposting, accompanied by substantial reduction in organic carbon content. C: N ratio was reduced to less than 20. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr and Pb) concentration was higher in vermicompost than in initial waste mixtures. Parthenium weed addition to worm feed was not supportive to the worm growth and fecundity. It was inferred from the results that vermicomposting may be an efficient biological approach to convert parthenium-spiked biogas plant slurry into nutrient-rich manure.

The population density and expansion of invasive alien plant (IAP) species in the roadside areas of
the Rajshahi – Dhaka Asian Highway, north-western Bangladesh (24°22ʹ N 88°36ʹ E) along 100m
transects was recorded in 2009 and 2010. The five most abundant herbaceous and woody IAP
species recorded were  Ageratum conyzoides  L., Chromolaena odorata  (L.) King & Robinson,
Mikania micrantha Kunth, Parthenium hysterophorus  L. (all Asteraceae) and  Lantana camara  L.
(Verbenaceae). Of these IAPs,  P. hysterophorus  and  A. conyzoides  increased their populations
most rapidly while the other species had slower expansion.

Production of Bio-ethanol as fossil fuel supplement from biomass of the waste land weed
Parthenium hysterophorus L. which causes reduction of biodiversity and crop production
drastically because of its high regeneration capacity, high seed germinability and extreme
adaptability to wide range of ecosystems, creates remarkable potential to meet the current
energy demand in the world as well as environmental concern of greenhouse gas emissions.
Conversion of lignocelluloses into pentoses as well as hexoses is the major step to enhance
the ethanol yield through fermentation process. The present study was carried out with three
different particle sizes (0.35 mm, 0.95 mm, 1.78 mm) of biomass and three different
concentration (1%, 3%, 5%) of sulphuric acid followed by 2 hours soaking with autohydrolysis at 121 ºC for 15 min and hydrolysis in the temperature range of 190 – 230 ºC for
10 min. Particle size of 0.95 mm, treated with 5% sulphuric acid auto-hydrolysis revealed the
maximum yield of 61.7 mg/g of xylose and 115.5 mg/g of total reducing sugars. Pichia
stipitis has shown its fermenting capability with a high ethanol yield (26.19 mg/g) by
utilizing 84% available total reducing sugars and 53% of xylose.

Concentrations of alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, polyphenols and saponins in selected medicinal plants from Ecuador and their relationship with acute toxicity against Artemia salina. Alkaloids, polyphenols, cyanogenic glycosides and saponins are among the main chemical compounds synthesized by plants but not considered essential for their basic metabolism. These compounds have different functions in plants, and have been recognized with medicinal and pharmacological properties. In this research, concentrations of the mentioned secondary metabolites were determined in the medicinal plants Artemisia absinthium, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Parthenium hysterophorus, Piper carpunya and Taraxacum officinale, from Ecuador, and related with cytotoxic effects against Artemia salina. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts from leaves of these selected plants were prepared at different concentrations. To assess cytotoxicity of these extracts, different bioassays with A. salina were undertaken, and the mortality rates and LC 50 were obtained. Besides, concentrations of alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, phenols, tannins and saponins were determined by spectrophotometric methods; this constituted the first report of quantification of secondary metabolites in the selected plants from Ecuador. T. officinale had the highest concentration of total phenols (22.30 ± 0.23 mg/g) and tannins (11.70 ± 0.10 mg/g), C. aconitifolius of cyanogenic glycosides (5.02 ± 0.37 μg/g) and P. hysterophorus of saponins (6.12 ± 0.02 mg/g). Tannins values obtained were not adverse to their consumption. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of selected plants had hemolytic activity depending on the concentration of saponins. Although the values of cyanogenic glycosides were permissible, it was necessary to monitor the presence of this metabolite in plants to minimize health problems. LC 50 values ranged from extremely toxic (3.37 μg/mL) to highly toxic (274.34 μg/mL), in P. carpunya and T. officinale, respectively. From correlation analysis, it was observed that increase values of alkaloids concentrations had highly significant (p<0.001) acute toxicity against A. salina, while at a higher polyphenol concentration the level of plants cytotoxicity decreased significantly (p<0.001). The results of principal component analysis showed that saponins apparently were in synergy with polyphenols to decrease cytotoxicity, but antagonize with alkaloids and cyanogenic glycosides, indicating that these secondary metabolites present variability in the mechanisms of action against A. salina, as cytotoxic compounds. These results also demonstrate that polyphenols and saponins can be lethal at low concentrations, demonstrating the poten- tial of brine shrimp bioassay as a model to evaluate plant extracts containing low concentrations of chemical compounds with high polarities. The significant positive correlation between cytotoxicity and concentration of alkaloids confirmed by the bioassay of brine shrimp can be useful to identify promising sources of antitumor compounds, and to evaluate tolerable limits not affecting other benign cells. Contents of secondary metabolites found in the selected plants confer them great pharmacologic values. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1171-1184. Epub 2016 September 01.

Labeled as one of the world’s most serious invasive plants, spreading over Australia, Asia, and Africa during the
present century, recent unabated expansion of Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) was described in the western
parts of Ethiopia. In a two-year survey, Parthenium hysterophorus has been found to spread vigorously in Ambo of
Oromia Region, Ethiopia, mostly along the roadsides. Though literature survey indicated a serious problem of crop
fields, range lands and other habitats, evidences from this survey indicate that in the study area it is spreading
along the highway and still in the early stage of invasion. Population of this weed is rapidly expanding along the
roadsides. Results indicated that there is enough knowledge and awareness among the agriculture workers but
farmers and students lack adequate information. Absence of effective control measure in the region was noted and
the needs of long term, well planned integrated control activities are suggested.

Field survey on parthenium was conducted at East shewa Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia during 2008 cropping season.  The objectives of the study was to assess the weed flora composition and plant species that are growing in copetation with parthenium to use those plants as potential biological management options under field condition. Assessment of weed flora composition was carried out in five Kebeles (Farmers Association) of Boset District East Shewa Zone of Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. Data on the species composition were recorded and samples of weed flora compositions were collected. The result showed a total of eighty five different herbaceous plant species that were collected and recorded in 63 genera and 24 families. Poaceae (21), Asteraceae (11), Fabaceae (7) and Convolvulaceae (7) were by far the richest taxa and accounted together (55 %) of the entire flora of the study area. The major plant species having higher dominance value were Parthenium hysterophorus (25.6), Cassia tora (6.07), Argemone mexicana (5.83), Xanthium strumarium (4.53), Digitaria abyssinica (3.02) and Cyperus rotundus (2.86). Similarity index values of the species composition among different kebeles ranged from 65% to 78% which indicating that weed species compositions in these locations were similar. The diversity and evenness of species declined with increasing spread of parthenium which suggests negative influence that parthenium had on the status of species diversity in the studied area. In conclusion the selected plant species that were found competitive with parthenium based on their abundance and dominance values were Argemone mexicana, Cassia tora, and Xanthium strumarium which were suggested for detailed competition experiment in order to determine their competitiveness with P. hysterophorus and will be used for biological management of it.

Parthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed species that competes aggressively with other plants and is also allelopathic. It poses a significant risk to human health, livestock, the environment, soil, and agriculture. However, given some clinical studies, its potential for antidiabetic, antioxidant, antitumor, herbicidal, pesticidal, and antimalarial therapies should be researched further in attempts to discover more relevant applications. It can be used as a nutrient-dense, readily available, and cheap fertilizer. Parthenium can also be used as an herbicide, an insecticide, and a phyto-remedial mediator to extract metals and dyes from agricultural waste. Here we provide basic information on the morphology, reproduction, environmental impacts, and management of this species. Effects of methanol, ethanol, hexane, acetone, and aqueous (water) Parthenium extracts are described. Because P. hysterophorus is said to be one of the world’s seven worst weeds, some control measures, includi...

Instantaneous detection of melamine, a potential milk adulterant has been demonstrated at room temperature by means of interference biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. The sensing mechanism is based on the colorimetric change observed during the synthesis of silver nanoparticles due to the presence of melamine added during the biosynthesis. Presence and absence of melamine led to either inhibition of nanoparticle formation or enable partial synthesis of nanoparticles which is detected spectrally. A limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ppm in water and 0.5 ppm in raw milk was detected by the proposed technique at room temperature. UV–vis spectroscopy and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) have been used to detect the spectral Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and morphological changes of synthesized silver nanoparticle with and without the presence of the analyte melamine. Further , interference synthesis based sensing of melamine was done with caffeic acid as a reducing agent which confirms the role of caffeic acid a major constituent of Parthenium leaf extract for interference biosynthesis based sensing. Melamine is detected from raw milk by interference biosynthesis based sensing after a facile milk pre-processing step. Thus the method can be converted into a workable handheld prototype for detection of melamine for in-situ field applications.

Ab s trac t
Due to the present scenario of depletion of fossil fuels, a
promising alternative; the production of bioethanol from
renewable source that is lignocellulosic biomass; Parthenium
hysterophorus L raises a substitute of petroleum. Parthenium
hysterophorus L. has been defined as pioneer for
consideration of this biomass to be assessed as its high
regeneration capacity, production of huge amounts of seeds,
high seed germinabilty & extreme adaptability to wide range
of ecosystems. Dilute acid hydrolysis of the biomass
cooperate an important role in pentose as well as hexose
sugar yield. Pretreatment process revealed the presence of
61.7 mg/g of xylose and 115.5 mg/g of total reducing sugars.
Among the xylose fermenting yeast Pichia stipitis has shown
promising capability for industrial use, as it is able to
ferment xylose rapidly with a high ethanol yield (26.19 mg/g)
by utilizing 84% available hexose sugars and 53% of xylose.

Chlorides are the natural substances which are found in the water bodies in varying amounts. Chlorides in concentration above 600mg/L produces salty taste in water. The concentration of chloride content above 250mg/L is considered objectionable. Presence of high quantity of chloride content in water resources indicate pollution due to human and industrial wastes and also from the earthen rocks in the sub-surface. High Chloride concentrations in freshwater can harm aquatic organisms survival, growth and reproduction by interfering with Osmo-regulation, the biological processes which maintains the proper concentration of salts and other solutes in the bodily fluids. In large concentrations it can create problems to water supply line and human health as well. Many physico-chemical techniques like Demineralisation, reverse Osmosis, Coagulation, Precipitation, Electrodialysis etc have been practised to reduce chloride content. While these are cost consuming both capital maintenance cost wise. Therefore, this paper deals with study of chloride concentration for Gwalior city and its removal using parthenium sp. as Bio adsorbent in batch study. The paper concluded that parthenium sp. dried biomass is capable to achieve reduction in the chloride content upto 40% at Lab scale.

The efficiency of  Parthenium hysterophorus L., as potential feed stock was investigated by using different pretreatment methods.  P.hysterophorus L., being declared invasive weed, is an obnoxious flowering plant which is a big challenge to all attempts of control. Although several eradication measures have been undertaken in this regard for many years, not
a single method is yet an option for the total eradication of
Parthenium.Thus, the status of  Parthenium management is
visualized with respect to large-scale utilization. Therefore, in the present work, Parthenium is chosen to comparatively analyze itsefficiency as a potential feed stock

The phenological survey of Parthenium hysterophorus L., in and around the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was done for about two years (2004-06). During Nov 2004, a few Parthenium plants were found diseased, and symptoms were restricted to the flowers, buds, and inflorescences. The disease causes sterility and reduces seed viability, which was observed with seed germination test from infected and healthy plants. The fungal pathogen was isolated and identified as Cladosporium sp. (MCPL-461). The severity of pathogen to the reproductive organs led to serious damages of the Parthenium plants. Thus in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the bio-control potential of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) against Parthenium weed. A combinatorial effort of Cladosporium sp. (MCPL 461) bio-control potential was evaluated with different culture media, incubation periods and spores strength. Spore suspension of 10(5) to 10(12) spores ml(-1) were used to spray on healthy Par...

Systematic information on the quantitative impact of Zygogramma bicolorata on the biology of Parthenium hysterophorus iscrucial as the seeds of this weed continue to germinate from the accumulated soil seed bank throughout the year in the form of different germinating flushes, while the activity of the beetle ceases during winter as it enters diapause. Therefore, plant–herbivore interactions need to be explored to develop predictions of the overall impact of the introduced beetle on the weed. The findings revealed that defoliation by Z . bicolorata had a significant impact on the plant height, density and flower production in flushes F 3, F 4 and F 5, but not in F 1 and F 2 that exhibited longer periodicity, profuse branching, a longer flowering period and maximum flower production and contributed mostly to the existing seed soil bank. Therefore, total depletion of the existing soil seed bank was not possible. Consequently, the effect of augmentative field releases of laboratory-reared beetles was explored on F 1 and F 2 in February for three consecutive years (2011–2013). Before initiating the trial, random soil samples were taken from the plots that were assigned to the paired treatments (i.e. with the beetle and without the beetle [insecticide-treated]) and it was found that the seed bank in those samples did not differ. The single release of Z . bicolorata adults at five per plant at the six-leaf stage significantly reduced the soil seed bank, compared to without the biocontrol agent, irrespective of the flushes at the end of the season.

The present experiment was conducted at research farm of Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Dhule. Phosphocompost was prepared by using Parthenium and cassia weed along with low grade rock phosphate by pit method. Treatment composed of Parthenium and cassia weed incorporated with three levels of rock phosphate i.e. 4, 8 and 12 per cent of weed residues. Organic carbon content was continuously decreased with increase in period of composting as well as slight decrease was also noticed with increased rock phosphate levels. The maximum total N (1.87 %) and total P (1.48 %) contents were recorded in the phosphocompost prepared from cassia weed + 12 % rock phosphate. The C:N ratio was found to be gradually declined with period and rock phosphate levels. The lowest C:N ratio (16.33) was noticed under cassia weed + 12 % rock phosphate compost. The highest humic acid and fulvic acid contents (1.12 and 10.42 g 100 g) were noted in cassia weed + 12 %...

Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. (Asteraceae) is an aggressive and exotic weed plant reported to be used as remedy for various diseases. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from various parts of P. hysterophorus Linn. were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against three bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 3160, Bacillus cereus MTCC 1272, Escherichia coli MTCC 43) and three fungal strains (Candida albicans MTCC 3017, Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277, Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 36). Alcoholic extracts exhibited varying degree of antifungal activity, Root extract was able to inhibit only Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277 with zone of inhibition 9.0±0.0 mm, stem extract were able to inhibit Candida albicans MTCC 3017 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 36 with zone of inhibition 7.0±1.0 mm and 15±1.0 mm respectively. Leaf extract was able to inhibit Bacillus cereus MTCC 1272, Candida albicans

Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. (Asteraceae) is an aggressive and exotic weed plant reported to be used as remedy for various diseases. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts obtained from various parts of P. hysterophorus Linn. were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against three bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 3160, Bacillus cereus MTCC 1272, Escherichia coli MTCC 43) and three fungal strains (Candida albicans MTCC 3017, Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277, Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 36). Alcoholic extracts exhibited varying degree of antifungal activity, Root extract was able to inhibit only Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277 with zone of inhibition 9.0±0.0 mm, stem extract were able to inhibit Candida albicans MTCC 3017 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 36 with zone of inhibition 7.0±1.0 mm and 15±1.0 mm respectively. Leaf extract was able to inhibit Bacillus cereus MTCC 1272, Candida albicans MTCC 3017, Aspergillus flavus MTCC 277 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 36, with zone of ...