Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Climate change and the sustainable use of medicinal plants: a call for “new” research strategies

Olha Мykhailenko; Banaz Jalil; Lyndy J. McGaw; Javier Echeverría; Marce Inggritha Takubessi; Michael Heinrich

Frontiers in Pharmacology · 2025

Read source ↗ All evidence

Summary

This paper, authored by an internationally diverse team of pharmacognosy and natural products researchers, examines the intersection of climate change and the sustainable use of medicinal plants, arguing that existing research strategies are insufficient to address emerging challenges. It likely synthesises evidence on how altered temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events affect plant secondary metabolite profiles, geographic ranges, and supply chain resilience. The authors call for updated, integrative research approaches that incorporate ecology, ethnopharmacology, agronomy, and climate science to safeguard medicinal plant resources.

UK applicability

While the paper is international in scope, its findings are applicable to the UK in the context of both wild-harvested native medicinal species and imported herbal raw materials, as well as UK policy frameworks governing sustainable sourcing of botanical ingredients and herbal medicines.

Key measures

Phytochemical composition; species distribution and habitat range; sustainability indicators for wild-harvested and cultivated medicinal plants; proposed research methodologies

Outcomes reported

The paper likely examines how climate change threatens the quality, availability, and sustainable use of medicinal plants, and proposes adapted or novel research frameworks to address these challenges. It may review shifts in phytochemical profiles, geographic distribution, and cultivation viability under changing climatic conditions.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Medicinal & aromatic plants
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.3389/fphar.2024.1496792
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-07g

Topic tags

Pulse AI · ask about this record

Dig deeper with Pulse AI.

Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.