SILVER OXIDE PARTICLES SYNTHESIS AND RICINUSCOMMUNIS (CASTOR OIL PLANT) AGAINST PERICHAETAPOSTHUMA(EARTHWORM)

The search for eco-friendly alternatives to chemical anthelmintics has led to the exploration of plant-based nanoparticles. This study investigated the anthelmintic activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Ricinuscommunis(castor plant) ash extract against Perichaetaposthuma, a standard model for intestinal helminths. The dried leaves of Ricinuscommunis were grinded and sieved to powder, which was then extracted using different solvents (aqueous, ethanol, and methanol) and combined with silver nitrate (AgNO₃) to facilitate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Srivastava etal.., 2022) Anthelmintic activity was assessed by exposing live Pericheata posthuma earthworms to various concentrations (70%, 35%, and 17.5%) of the extracts, both alone and in combination with AgNO₃. Albendazole was used as the standard drug for comparison. The results showed that the extracts alone had limited effect, with a maximum mortality rate of 33.3% at 70% concentration. However, when combined with AgNO₃, the formulations demonstrated significantly enhanced activity, with some combinations achieving 100% mortality within 10 minutes, outperforming the standard drug in certain cases. (Anjani 2024) These findings suggest that silver nanoparticles derived from Ricinus communis possess strong anthelmintic properties and offer a promising, natural alternative to conventional chemical drugs. The studys supports further investigation into the development of green nanoparticle-based anthelmintic agents for pharmaceutical or agricultural use.(Kumar etal..,2020)