Metal nanoparticles and medicinal plants: Present status and future prospects in cancer therapy

Abstract Cancer is a deadly disease in which the abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled manner. It is the major cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. To treat this disease, the medical practitioners and researchers have relied on the available conventional therapies. Although, the success rates of these therapies are quite high, still there are a number of side effects associated with them. This growing challenge has drawn the attention of the researchers in using plants or plant extracts as a promising cure for cancer. There are more than 3000 medicinal plant species across the globe, which are reported to have been used in cancer treatment. However, the crude plant extracts are not proven to be specific in nature and even the doses are not well defined. To improve the therapeutic effects of these natural compounds the researchers have used them along with the metal nanoparticles (MNPs). The plants extracts are used either in the green synthesis of the MNPs or conjugated with the latter. The MNPs play a crucial role in cancer therapy as they provide better targeting and gene silencing. The phytochemical-conjugated MNPs are being used in the procedure of drug delivery as they enhance aqueous solubility of the plant-based drug and deliver it efficiently to the target site. Although there are a number of benefits of the MNPs, yet there are peculiar loopholes also. The prominent disadvantage includes increased toxicity levels caused by accumulation of the MNPs both in the body and in the environment. There’s a lot of free energy in these particles which causes the agglomeration of particles making them ineffective for delivering drugs. Because of such limitations, there is an ongoing search for other nanomaterials making the future of the metallic nanoparticles a dubious one in cancer therapy.