The factors affecting optimisation of phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Indian medicinal plant species and their biological applications: A review

Recently, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) hold a centre stage in the vast arena of research in nanomedicine. Biological methods of synthesis of nanoparticles are being adopted to avoid the use of chemicals that are toxic and hazardous and used in chemical synthetic methods. The choice of the plant extracts used for the synthesis of AgNPs is based on their phytochemicals and pharmaceutical properties. Another importance of the phytosynthesis method is that it is simple, easy, fast, reliable and cost effective. The phytochemical components of the herbal extracts not only cause reduction of Ag+1 to Ag0, but also increase the biological activities of the nanoparticles. This article briefly describes the research on green synthesis of AgNPs using Indian medicinal plant extracts. We aim to provide a systemic depth of information regarding the effect of various reaction factors during the synthesis of AgNPs such as the concentration of silver salt and phytoextract, light intensity, time, temperature, pH of the reaction mixture. The characterizations of nanoparticles are done by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet- visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectra, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis. The phytochemicals and pharmaceutical activities present in the plant extracts are also reported here. The articles from 2011 to 2022 were selected and studied in detail to get in-depth knowledge about the phytosynthesis of AgNPs and their biological activities.