Green Synthesis of Nanomaterials Mediated by Herbal Medicine: Mechanism, Characterization, and Application Prospects

This review systematically explores the rapidly developing green nanotechnology field of herbal mediated synthesis of nanomaterials, with a focus on the latest research progress, current key challenges, and future development directions. The synthesis of nanomaterials using plant extracts provides a sustainable alternative to traditional high-energy consumption and environmentally harmful physical and chemical methods, simplifying process conditions and endowing products with good biocompatibility and potential functionality. The article elaborates on the basic principles of herbal synthesis, deeply analyzes the mechanisms of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenes in metal reduction and nanoparticle stabilization, and summarizes the synthesis strategies and characteristics of different types of nanomaterials. However, herbal mediated synthesis still faces several core challenges, including reproducibility differences caused by the complex composition of plant extracts, difficulties in scaling up the synthesis process, and limitations in controlling the size and morphology of nanoparticles. Future research should focus on the following directions: developing new plant sources with controllable components, analyzing the molecular mechanisms of plant chemical reactions with metal ions, improving the structural consistency and functional stability of products, and establishing standardized and industrializable synthesis systems.