The concentration of mercuric chloride and the duration of the treatment were standardized. 94% contamination free explants were obtained when the concentration of mercuric chloride was 0.05% treated for time duration of 2 min. Treatment of the leaf explants with 0.1% concentration of mercuric chloride for time duration of 2 min helped to obtain 86% contamination-free explants. When treatment was extended to 3 min, some of the explants got killed and only 58% surviving explants were obtained. The surface sterilization of nodal and internode explants of M. pruriens was carried with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 15 min. It was then surface sterilized with mercuric chloride. The concentration of mercuric chloride and the duration of the treatment were standardized. 100% contamination free explants were obtained when the concentration of mercuric chloride was 0.1% for time duration of 4 min. The treatment with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 3 min and 0.05% mercuric chloride for 5 min helped to obtain 93% and 95% contamination-free explants, respectively