Climate change and its impact on the quality and trade of Indian medicinal plants: Case studies of ashwagandha and bacopa

Health benefits of medicinal plants are attributed to their complex phytochemical constitution, particularly to the secondary metabolites. Climate change manifested in many forms like weather and rain patterns is a reality being experienced across the world and can have potential impact on growth and phytochemical composition of medicinal plants. In this contecxt, we have studied two Indian medicinal plants widely used in supplements across the globe viz., ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and bacopa ( Bacopa monnieri ) [ 1 ]. The two plants have a contrasting need in agroclimatic conditions for growth. Ashwagandha thrives in semi-arid to dry subtropical regions of India while bacopa is a moisture-loving medicinal herb that needs warm, humid, and wet conditions for optimum growth. Water logging on account of unseasonal rains and floods and shifts from dry land to irrigation based cultivation practices have shown reduction in content of withanolides in ashwagandha. Flooding and movement of water have made it difficult to certify lands for organic cultivation due to movement of pollutants and potential changes in soil compositions. These changes are making manufacturers of botanical extracts to innovate and adapt to maintain quality and trade. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany