A review on green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using plant extracts: a multifaceted approach in photocatalysis, environmental remediation, and biomedicine

Abstract

A sustainable and viable alternative for conventional chemical and physical approaches is the green production of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using plant extracts. This review centers on the diverse applications of plant-mediated SNPs in biomedicine, environmental remediation, and photocatalysis. Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Azadirachta indica (neem) and many others are plant extracts that have been used as stabilizing and reducing agents because of their extensive phytochemical profiles. The resulting SNPs have outstanding qualities, such as better photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes like methylene blue, antibacterial efficacy towards multidrug-resistant pathogens, biocompatibility for possible therapeutic applications, and regulated magnitude (10–50 nm), enhanced rigidity, and tunable surface plasmon resonance. Significant effects of plant extract type, amount, and synthesis parameters on the physical and functional characteristics of SNPs are revealed by key findings. Along with highlighting important issues and potential paths forward, this review also underlines the necessity of scalable production, thorough toxicity evaluations, and investigating the incorporation of SNPs into commercial applications. This work highlights how plant-based SNPs can be used to address global environmental and biological concerns by straddling the division between sustainable chemistry and nanotechnology.