The green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles using plant extracts has emerged as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to combat antimicrobial resistance. Bio-inspired synthesis is an innovative approach miming natural processes to create advanced materials with unique properties. This method leverages biological principles and templates to guide the synthesis of nanoparticles, polymers, and other materials. The resulting materials often exhibit enhanced performance, biocompatibility, and sustainability. This method leverages the natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents found in plant extracts to synthesize nanoparticles, avoiding the use of hazardous chemicals. This study explores the bio-inspired synthesis of metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles, focusing on their potential application bio-inspireds in various fields, including medicine, energy storage, and environmental remediation. By understanding and replicating nature's strategies, bio-inspired synthesis offers a promising pathway to develop next-generation materials with improved functionality and reduced environmental impact. The development of nanoparticles (NPs) having antibacterial action, like metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs), is made possible by nanotechnology. Because MONPs can interact with multiple biological components and suppress microbial growth, they offer a potential solution to overcome pathogenicity or antimicrobial resistance. The overview of the review provides burgeoning research surrounding the green synthesis of different nanoparticles utilizing various plant extracts. It provides the antimicrobial efficacy of nanoparticles, including zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO<inf>2</inf>), iron oxide (FeO), copper oxide (CuO), and nickel oxide (NiO), at different concentrations against different bacterial strains. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the antimicrobial activity of these nanoparticles was discussed. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable nanotechnology in developing effective antimicrobial agents and promoting environmental sustainability. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.