India, Oct. 16 -- Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, have used extracts from medicinal plants to produce potent antibacterial agents that are environmentally safe and effective, according to officials. The research addresses the problem of antimicrobial resistance. The overuse of traditional antibiotics has resulted in the rise of "superbugs" that have become resistant to these treatments. All around the world, scientists are seeking alternative methods to fight these superbugs, they said. The research has been published in the prestigious "Surfaces and Interphases" journal.

According to Suman Jha, Associate Professor, NIT Rourkela, one promising class of materials that has been studied is zinc oxide nan...