Harmful and beneficial aspects of Parthenium hysterophorus: an update

Abstract

Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious weed in America, Asia, Africa and Australia. This weed is considered to be a cause of allergic respiratory problems, contact dermatitis, mutagenicity in human and livestock. Crop production is drastically reduced owing to its allelopathy. Also aggressive dominance of this weed threatens biodiversity. Eradication of P. hysterophorus by burning, chemical herbicides, eucalyptus oil and biological control by leaf-feeding beetle, stem-galling moth, stem-boring weevil and fungi have been carried out with variable degrees of success. Recently many innovative uses of this hitherto notorious plant have been discovered. Parthenium hysterophorus confers many health benefits, viz remedy for skin inflammation, rheumatic pain, diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, dysentery, malaria and neuralgia. Its prospect as nano-medicine is being carried out with some preliminary success so far. Removal of heavy metals and dye from the environment, eradication of aquatic weeds, use as substrate for commercial enzyme production, additives in cattle manure for biogas production, as biopesticide, as green manure and compost are to name a few of some other potentials. The active compounds responsible for hazardous properties have been summarized. The aim of this review article is to explore the problem P. hysterophorus poses as a weed, the effective control measures that can be implemented as well as to unravel the latent beneficial prospects of this weed.

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Parthenium hysterophorus Leaf Extract and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Properties

“…However, in spite of all the problems associated with this weed, it can be explored for its beneficial aspects. It has been reported that the decoction of P. hysterophorus has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, diarrhea, neurologic disorders, urinary tract infections, dysentery and malaria [3]. It has been found to be a pharmacologically active analgesic in muscular rheumatism, therapeutic for neuralgia and as a vermifuge [4].…”

Parthenium hysterophorus in Current Scenario: A Toxic Weed with Industrial, Agricultural and Medicinal Applications

“…The cadmium adsorbing ability of Parthenium was also explored, which was maximum at pH 3-4 with recovery of 82% with 0.1 M HCl as effluent (Ajmal et al, 2006;Patel, 2011). Activated carbon prepared from Parthenium showed cresol (a phenol derivative) adsorbing ability comparable to commercial grade activated carbon (Singh et al, 2008;Patel, 2011).…”

“…Activated carbon prepared from Parthenium showed cresol (a phenol derivative) adsorbing ability comparable to commercial grade activated carbon (Singh et al, 2008;Patel, 2011). As, heavy metals (Ni and Cd), cresols and dyes caused cancer and other diseases in humans so, their treatments or removal from industrial wastes becomes necessary, which make Parthenium a better, cheaper and eco-friendly source as an adsorbent.…”

Ethnobotanical Importance and Phytochemical constituents of Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) – A Review

“…This weed is also reported as promising remedy against hepatic amoebiasis. Parthenin, the major constituent of the plant, exhibits significant medicinal attributes including anticancer property (Patel, 2011). Decoction of roots is used in dysentery and helpful in skin disorders.…”