Climate Change-Induced Alterations in Bioactive Compounds of Medicinally Important Plants

Abstract

Climate change has been a serious environmental factor affecting the growth, behavior, distribution,
and chemical composition of medicinal plants. The changes in rainfall (precipitation), temperature,
humidity, carbon dioxide level, and harsh weather conditions can have detrimental effect on plant
metabolic activities. These changes in the environment can either enhance or suppress the production
of biologically active (or otherwise known as bioactive) compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids,
terpenoids, phenolics, and other chemical compounds present in the plant, which are important for
their medicinal value. When various plant species undergo stress, they produce certain type
metabolites or phytochemical compounds which is specific for that plant. While others produce
lower amounts of these plant-specific metabolites, they can differ greatly in their healing attributes
and/or effectiveness. In addition, environmental changes can also affect where plants grow i.e. their
distribution, and also their life cycles, and their relationships with pollinators, pests and other plants
which ultimately leads to the modification of their chemical makeup and composition.
Understanding these effects is essential for finding ways and techniques to protect the diversity of
medicinal plants and maintain the consistency of their healing properties. Hence, extensive research
on how medicinal plants respond to climate change is required to support traditional medicine and
the pharmaceutical industry in the future and eliminate research gaps.