GREEN SYNTHESIS OF METAL NANOPARTICLES USING PLANT EXTRACTS: BIOMEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) using plant extracts has emerged as a sustainable and biocompatible alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods. This review highlights the recent advancements, mechanisms, and multifaceted applications of plant-mediated metal nanoparticles in biomedical and environmental fields over the past five years. Plant secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids play dual roles as reducing and stabilizing agents, enabling the formation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties. Silver (Ag), gold (Au), zinc oxide (ZnO), iron oxide (Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄), cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄), and hybrid or bimetallic systems have been widely studied for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, drug delivery, biosensing, catalysis, pollutant degradation, and wastewater treatment capabilities. The review presents synthesis pathways, characterization techniques, and specific applications, and discusses challenges such as reproducibility, scalability, and regulatory concerns. Finally, future perspectives on integrating green-synthesized MNPs into real-world applications are explored.