Biosynthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles from Medicinal Plants: A Review

Abstract

Biosynthesis of nanoparticle from various medicinal plants has been effectively used in controlling the various diseases. Secondary metabolites which are derived from various plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots, shoots, flowers, barks and seeds through extraction used as reducing agents for bioreduction reaction. The secondary metabolites present in the plants such as terpenoids, flavones, ketones, aldehydes, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics and saponins used in the biological synthesis of nanoparticles which are a less toxic and non-hazardous method as compare to the other physical and chemical biosynthesis. Various metals such as cobalt, copper, silver, gold, palladium, platinum, zinc oxide and magnetite are used for nanoparticle synthesis. There are different techniques which are used to characterize nanoparticles such as UV-visible (vis) spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Plant derived nanoparticles shows various pharmacological applications such as anti-bactericidal activities, anti-fungicidal activities, antiplasmodial activity, anti-inflammatory action, anticancer studies, antiviral effects, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities.