{
  "id": 15058362,
  "title": "Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua leaf extracts: Enhanced in vitro anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/green-synthesis-of-silver-nanoparticles-from-artemisia-afra-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.09.757962v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Anthelmintic resistance in the gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus presents a significant hurdle in livestock parasite management. This study explored the anthelmintic potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized through a green method using extracts from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua leaves. Aqueous leaf extracts were used to produce AgNPs by optimizing reaction conditions, including the extract-to-silver nitrate ratio, concentration, pH, and incubation time.\n\nPhytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, polyphenols, and saponins in both plant species, with Artemisia afra exhibiting significantly higher total phenolic (282 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (3655.56 mg QE/g) content compared to Artemisia annua. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of AgNPs, displaying characteristic surface plasmon resonance peaks at 435 nm (A. afra-AgNPs) and 456 nm (A. annua-AgNPs).\n\nThe anthelmintic activity of the AgNPs was evaluated using the Adult Worm Motility Assay, conducted over a concentration range of 3-48 microg/mL for 24 hours. Both AgNP formulations demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of worm motility. However, Artemisia afra-AgNPs exhibited superior efficacy, achieving lower IC50 values at 12 hours compared to both Artemisia annua-AgNPs and the commercial anthelmintic levamisole. Specifically, at 48 microg/mL (12 hours), Artemisia afra-AgNPs demonstrated significantly greater motility inhibition than Artemisia annua-AgNPs, and surpassed levamisole at 12 microg/mL (18 hours).\n\nThese findings suggest that green-synthesized AgNPs derived from Artemisia species, particularly Artemisia afra, possess potent anthelmintic properties as eco-friendly nano-anthelmintic agents. This eco-friendly approach offers a promising solution for combating drug-resistant nematode infections in livestock populations.",
  "summary": "Rising anthelmintic resistance in Haemonchus contortus and other gastrointestinal nematodes poses a critical challenge to livestock parasite management, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic agents. This study evaluated the in vitro anthelmintic potential of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua leaf extracts against adult…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}