BackgroundViscum orientaleis a largely used parasitic plant with traditional medicinal properties. They are considered to possess the medicinal properties of host tree which they grow on. It’s a least explored plant with ethanopharmacological importance. As a result, the current work aimed to investigate the biological effects ofViscum orientaleextract and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) generated from it.MethodsAgNPs synthesized usingViscum orientale plantextract and analysed on time dependent series and was characterized using Ultra Violet UV–visible spectra, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Further using disc method anti-microbial assay was performed following antioxidation screening using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and nitric oxide content and heamgglutination with human blood.ResultsOn green synthesis using silver, the phyto contituents of plantViscum orientaleeffectively reduced silver ions at 3-4 h of continuous stirring to form AgNPs. UV–vis spectra showed a typical peak of AgNPs at 480 nm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the covering of silver layers to bio-compounds of the extract. SEM analysis represented AgNPs as spherical morphologies ranging from 119–222 nm. AgNPs exhibited impressive zone of inhibition againstEscherichia coli(8.1 ± 0.3 mm),Staphylococcus aureus(10.3 ± 0.3 mm),Bacillus subtilis(7.3 ± 0.3 mm),Bacillus cereus(8.2 ± 0.3 mm),Salmonella typhi(7.1 ± 0.2 mm). AgNps exhibited efficiency against DPPH at EC50value of 57.60 µg/ml. and reducing power at EC50of 53.42 µg/ml and nitric oxide scavenging of EC50of 56.01 µg/ml concentration. Further, anthelmintic activity results showed synthesized nanoparticles significant reduction in the paralysis time to 5.4 ± 0.3 min and death time to 6.5 ± 0.6 min in contrast to the individual factors. On hemagglutination using AgNPs, above 80 µg/ml of concentration showed very significant effect on comparison with water extract.ConclusionSynthesized AgNPs usingViscum orientalewater extract displayed versatile biological activity than individual extract. This study has forecasted a new path to explore more on this AgNPs for further research.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-023-03982-1.