Green Nanomedicine from Eupatorium: Phytochemical-Driven Synthesis of Therapeutic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

The review discusses the evolution of the genus Eupatorium from a traditional herbal medicine to a significant drug in green sustainable nanomedicine, addressing to the demand for focused scientific bridge between its phytochemistry and nanotechnology. The synthesis of Eupatorium-mediated nanoparticles is determined by secondary metabolites, specifically flavonoids such as eupafolin, as well as phenolic acids and terpenoids. The hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (C = O) functional groups of these compounds contribute to the bioconjugation of metal ions that turn into valuable nanoparticles, while they also act as capping agents to prevent aggregation, typically producing particles on the scale of 10–100 nm. Quantitative data evidence showed enhanced effectiveness of these nano formulations compared to crude extracts; antimicrobial zones of inhibition reaching 9–20 mm against pathogens such as E. coli and S. aureus, additionally antiviral efficacy against clinical viruses induced by E. perfoliatum have been reported in the range 59.59% to 72.78%.In addition, specific compounds such as eupalinolide demonstrate potent cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values less than 5µM. Through integration of these pharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic outcomes, this review highlights the dual role of Eupatorium as a functionalizing agent and a therapeutic candidate, while identifying the nanocarrier-assisted delivery as a primary gap for future clinical translation.