Relevance of Nanomaterials Derived From Medicinal Plants for Marine and Terrestrial Environments

Abstract

Over the years, significant attention has been given to nanomaterials derived from plant-based products for several health-enhancing physiological properties like antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antineoplastic, and anti-inflammatory activity. Many of the bioactive molecules derived from these plants, such as chitosan, carrageenan, polysaccharides, and fucoidan, are known to possess useful therapeutic properties against several metabolic and nonmetabolic diseases, like cancer, wound healing, hypertension, infertility, and several others. The major challenge in the utilization of nanoparticles is the genetic heterogeneity that contributes to the change in the efficacy of nanoparticles, thereby limiting their pharmacological effectiveness. Nanoparticles are also exploited for genome editing utilizing patients’ genetic information due to their significant biocompatibility, renewability, and safety. Thus, this chapter offers a general indication of the therapeutic potentials of nanodrugs synthesized using genetically engineered metabolites derived from medicinal plants from the marine and terrestrial environment.