The Use of Medicinal Plant-Derived Metallic Nanoparticles in Theranostics

Abstract

In the quest to effectively diagnose and treat the diseases that afflict mankind, the development of a tool capable of simultaneous detection and treatment would provide a significant cornerstone for the survival and control of these diseases. Theranostics denotes a portmanteau of therapeutics and diagnostics which simultaneously detect and treat ailments. Research advances have initiated the advent of theranostics in modern medicine. Overall, theranostics are drug delivery systems with molecular or targeted imaging agents integrated into their structure. The application of theranostics is rising exponentially due to the urgent need for treatments that can be utilized for diagnostic imaging as an aid in precision and personalised medicine. Subsequently, the emergence of nanobiotechnology and the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) has provided one such avenue for nanoscale development and research. Of interest is the drastic rise in the use of medicinal plants in the synthesis of MNPs which have been reported to be potentially effective in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. At present, medicinal plant-derived MNPs have been cited to have broad pharmacological applications and have been studied for their potential use in the treatment and management of cancer, malaria, microbial and cardiovascular diseases. The subject of this article regards the role of medicinal plants in the synthesis of MNPs and the potential role of MNPs in the field of theranostics.

Unleashing the promise of emerging nanomaterials as a sustainable platform to mitigate antimicrobial resistance

“…Moreover, Aspalathin and ellagic acid extracted from Aspalathus linearis and Rubus idaeus are used to produce RhNP and ZnNP, respectively. 266 In addition to plant extracts, live plants can synthesize metal nanoparticles. When silver is present in the substrate, some plants, such as Brassica juncea (Mustard greens), Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), and Helianthus annuus (Sunower), can accumulate a signicant amount of silver.…”

“…Moreover, Aspalathin and ellagic acid extracted from Aspalathus linearis and Rubus idaeus are used to produce RhNP and ZnNP, respectively. 266 …”

Factors Influencing the Green Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts: A Comprehensive Review

“…Green nano synthesis has gained attention due to its use of medicinal plants, which are readily available and contain a wide range of phytochemicals essential for NP synthesis. 12 Various parts of plants including fruit, leaves, bark, stem, and root have been used for NP green synthesis due to their high phytochemical contents. The synthesis process involves washing and boiling the selected plant part, followed by extraction, filtration, and the addition of a metal salt solution.…”

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Bioactivity of Mangifera indica Seed-Wrapped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

“…Phytochemicals found in medicinal plants have replaced the reducing agents’ sodium citrate, ascorbate and sodium borohydride in the chemical manufacturing technique of nanoparticles. As a result, the potentially harmful effects of chemical-reducing agents on the environment will be mitigated [ 29 , 31 ]. As a result, scientists are increasingly interested in developing methods for creating metal-based nanoparticles from plant extracts that are benign to the surrounding ecosystem.…”