Green nanomaterial synthesis is the process of producing various metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) utilizing bioactive reagents. It attempts to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability by employing mild reaction conditions and safe materials. Researchers have demonstrated a strong interest in using natural biomolecules extracted from plants to synthesize MNPs. The individual biomolecules in this plant extract function as reducing, capping, and stabilizing substances in the green production of stable MNPs using their related metal ion precursor solution. The advantages of this method are that it is environmentally friendly, does not require energy, and is cheap and quick. Recently, MNPs have been developed in the field of cancer due to various qualities, including their increased reactive surfaces and small specified volume, which make them suited for traditional small pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical compounds. MNPs, such as gold (AuNPs), silver (AgNPs) and copper (CuNPs), are increasingly being used as anticancer agents. This review describes the synthesis of three MNPs: AuNPs, AgNPs and CuNPs nanoparticles from plant extracts. AgNPs are the most often used synthetic NPs, accounting for more than 25% of all consumer items. AgNPs are generally employed for antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral purposes. Also, the anti-cancer activities of the MNPs were explained. The challenges and predicted developments for future studies are addressed, which are critical for real-world applications. In the future, new types of NPs will be generated employing modern technology, with a wide range of uses in numerous industries.