GREEN SYNTHESIZED METALLIC NANOPARTICLES AS PROSPECTIVE THERAPEUTICS IN FIGHT AGAINST LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative foodborne pathogen that causes a disease called human listeriosis. Elderly people, children, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women are most affected by listeriosis. Some strains of Listeria have developed resistance to several conventionally used antibiotics. Thus, the search for antibacterial agents against such emerging drug-resistant bacteria is currently an area of research worldwide. Metallic nanoparticles derived from various metals have been extensively investigated for their microbicidal properties. The outstanding bactericidal properties exhibited by these metallic nanoparticles have backed their merit as future antimicrobial agents. The present review aims to present an overview of listeriosis, available therapy against Listeria, and gaps in the existing anti-listerial treatment. Further, green synthesized metallic nanoparticles, their merits, and antimicrobial potential against L.monocytogenes have been summarized. The synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts has more benefits than any other nanoparticle synthesis method. This is because the method of green synthesis employs minimal steps, is eco-friendly, cost-effective, relatively safer, compatible with pharmaceutical applications, and easy to upscale. Many plants' secondary metabolites serve as reducing and stabilizing agents to synthesize these metallic nanoparticles. Several thus synthesized plant-mediated nanoparticles have exhibited good antibacterial activity against L.monocytogenes.