Nano-green: Harnessing the potential of plant extracts for sustainable antimicrobial metallic nanoparticles

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the most serious worldwide public health concerns, poses a serious risk to the establishment of pathogenic organisms that are multidrug-resistant. In addition, the uncontrolled and unregulated use of antibiotics has resulted in the rapid development of antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains. However, this issue can be resolved through the development of appropriate nanoparticle-based antimicrobial therapies to treat infectious diseases. Several metal/metal oxide nanoparticles showed strong antibacterial activity against dangerous pathogens by interacting with DNA, enzymes, ribosomes, and lysosomes, which can affect gene expression, oxidative stress, and cell membrane permeability. Currently, the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles using various plant extracts has attracted a great deal of attention towards antimicriobial nanotechnology. The article discusses the recent development of plant extract -mediated biosynthesized metal/metal oxide (Ag, Au, Pt, ZnO, CuO, TiO2, Fe2O3, CeO2, Y2O3) nanoparticles and their impacts, particularly for antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. The article also highlighted antimicrobial and oxidant mechanisms of metallic nanoparticles, including reactive oxygen species, antibiofilm formation inhibitors, dissolved metal ions, and efflux pump inhibitors, and their impacts on AMR.