Medicinal plants and climate change: a challenge for health and biodiversity

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been with us since ancient times. Their bioactive compounds, known as secondary metabolites, are the basis of traditional remedies and many modern medicines. But what happens to these plants on a rapidly warming planet?
Climate change is significantly impacting medicinal plants, altering the synthesis of secondary metabolites responsible for their therapeutic properties. Factors such as increased CO₂, ultraviolet radiation, water stress, salinity, and extreme temperature variations influence the quantity and quality of these compounds. While some stressors increase the production of flavonoids, essential oils, or alkaloids, others reduce it, affecting the availability and efficacy of phytotherapeutic resources.

A recent article published in Frontiers in Plant Science offers a detailed look at how climate change is modifying the way plants produce these therapeutic substances.

This scientific article addresses the main recent findings on the relationship between climate change and secondary metabolism, highlighting the urgency of implementing conservation strategies, sustainable cultivation and biotechnological research to ensure the continuity of these resources for the benefit of public health.