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Global Translational Medicine Phytonanotherapy in cancer and diabetes care

health care. To realize the full potential of these novel techniques, rigorous research, comprehensive clinical trials, and
regulatory support will be required.

Keywords: Phytonanotherapy; Complementary and alternative medicine; Nanoparticles; Cancer treatment; Diabetes
management

1. Introduction This review explores the promising potential of
phytosynthesized gold and silver NPs, particularly as
The World Health Organization emphasizes the anticancer and antidiabetic medicines. We present a new
importance of indigenous medicinal plants in the search combination of plant-derived compounds and metal NPs
for eco-friendly, non-hazardous, and cost-effective in phytonanotherapy, delivering therapeutic qualities
healthcare solutions. These plants have been used to treat a that potentially rival synthetic medications in clinical
variety of maladies, including acquired immune deficiency efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This paradigm
syndrome, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, malaria, change has the potential to revolutionize therapy for
and cancer. A considerable fraction of the population chronic diseases by allowing medicinal plant therapies to
in many developing nations combines complementary supplement existing synthetic medicines and ushering in
and alternative medicines (CAMs) with conventional a new era of clinical research in both non-communicable
prescription pharmaceuticals, mirroring a global trend. and communicable diseases. 5-7
Notably, in China, traditional alternative medicine
accounts for 30-50% of medical use, whereas in Africa, 2. CAM and NPs
CAM accounts for an astounding 80% of primary health
1,2
care. Even in the United States, around 158 million CAM and NPs represent two distinct topics that have
individuals use CAM. This increased interest in CAM can received considerable interest in the domains of health care
be ascribed to three basic factors: the desire to improve and biotechnology. Recent research has investigated the
one’s quality of life, reduce symptoms, and avoid long-term junction of these two realms, leading to fresh approaches in
problems. Despite advances in conventional medications, health care and therapeutic interventions. In this section,
they often bear the burden of long-term side effects and we look at this interesting intersection. Nano-based drug
the danger of ineffectiveness in treating chronic conditions delivery in CAM is one important area where CAM and
such as cancer and diabetes. 3,4 NPs collide in medication delivery. Because of their small
size and unique features, NPs can be created to encapsulate
The biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) without therapeutic chemicals sourced from medicinal plants or
the use of hazardous chemical and physical synthetic other CAM sources. NPs have the potential to improve the
processes is a promising way to harness the healing bioavailability and targeted administration of CAM-based
potential of medicinal plants. These plants have unique therapies, potentially increasing efficacy while decreasing
metal tolerance mechanisms that allow them to produce negative effects. This method has been used to give plant
8,9
NPs, particularly gold and silver NPs. This strategy is extracts, essential oils, and other CAMs.
made even more enticing by the fact that medicinal plants
include a complex mixture of chemical constituents Medicinal herbs, a cornerstone of CAM, have been
such as proteins, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, exploited to create eco-friendly NPs. Phytochemicals found
polysaccharides, and organic compounds. Because of in plant extracts can act as reducing and stabilizing agents
their chemical diversity, they are both ecologically friendly in NP production. Plant extracts containing polyphenols,
and chemically complex, making them appropriate for flavonoids, and terpenoids, for example, have been used to
a variety of medical uses. Terpenoids, polysaccharides, create NPs such as gold and silver. These photosynthesized
polyols, and flavones are phytocompounds that play NPs have the potential to be used in a variety of applications,
critical roles in the bioreduction, stabilization, and including medication delivery and diagnostics.
biocapping processes that result in the creation of stable The combination of CAM with NPs has the potential to
gold and silver NPs. Furthermore, as indicated by enzyme improve therapeutic outcomes. NPs, for example, can increase
inhibitor kinetics and in silico docking investigations, the solubility and stability of CAM-derived chemicals,
these plant compounds have inhibitory potential against making them more appropriate for therapeutic usage. This
specific diabetic targets, offering light on their inhibitory synergy could lead to more effective treatments for disorders
actions. like cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases.

Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 17 doi: 10.36922/gtm.5840