Review on terpenoid mediated nanoparticles: significance, mechanism, and biomedical applications

The increasing incorporation of colloidal metal nanoparticles in various fields of science has increased the need to synthesise colloidal nanoparticles through economically viable and environmentally friendly methods. Synthesising nanoparticles using plant extracts is one such method. Plant secondary metabolites like polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannic acids, and proteins reduce the metal ions resulting in colloidal nanoparticles and also stabilise them. Terpenoids are the most abundant and structurally distinct plant hydrocarbons capable of reducing metallic ions to corresponding nanoparticles. Terpenoids, in general, have excellent antibacterial properties. However, a detailed analysis of the synthesis, mechanism of action, and application has been very limited. Therefore, this review emphasises the significance of terpenoids and the biological synthesis of metal nanoparticles using terpenoids, their ability in reducing and stabilising metal ions, their application in the area of biomedicine such as wound dressings, as anti-microbial, anti-cancer, larvicidal, anti-fouling, nano-drugs and future trends of terpenoid mediated colloidal nanoparticles.