The impact of climate change on medicinal plants: A scoping review

Medicinal plants are essential for human and animal healthcare, for ecosystems, and play important socio-economic roles [ 1 ]. However, climate change has threatened their supply and sustainability [ 2 ] [ 3 ]. This review maps the current state of research on how climate change affects medicinal plants, focusing on ecological shifts, traditional uses, changes in secondary metabolites, and adaptation strategies. 216 studies were analyzed, showing an increase in publication after 2021. Most research was conducted in Asia, especially China and India, while Europe, Africa and South America remain underrepresented. The review covers 373 medicinal plant species, including high-altitude, climate-sensitive species such as Nardostachys jatamansi D.Don) DC. [Caprifoliaceae] and Paris polyphylla Sm. [Melanthiaceae]. Of these, 38.1% are classified as threatened by IUCN, and 61.9% remain unevaluated, pointing to significant conservation gaps. Research methods varied from basic experiments to advanced computational approaches, notably species distribution modeling (SDM), particularly MaxEnt, the most commonly used. Although climate change is projected to increase habitat suitability for 70 species, it has reduced suitable habitats for 106 species, caused range shifts in 94 species, and placed 33 species at risk of extinction and habitat loss. Reduced availability has led to less effective substitutes in traditional use. Heat, CO2, low rainfall, and drought can lead to changes in secondary metabolites, including increased and decreased bioactive or maker compounds. Climate change is reshaping medicinal plants’ ecology and pharmacological value. While adaptation strategies exist, their implementation remains limited. An interdisciplinary, coordinated response is urgently needed to ensure sustainability and preserve traditional knowledge. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany