Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively used in various industries due to their unique physico-chemical and antimicrobial properties. Many natural biomolecules in plants (inactivated plant tissue, plant extracts and living plant) such as proteins/enzymes, amino acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, alcoholic compounds, and vitamins could be involved in bioreduction, formation and stabilization of AgNPs. In this review, the role of plant based biomolecules in the synthesis of AgNPs along with their characteristics, antimicrobial activities and applications are investigated.