The Impact of Climate Change on Medicinal Plants and Natural Products: A Scoping Review

Marce Inggritha TakuBessi^1,2*Banaz Jalil^1,3Michael Heinrich^1*

• ¹University College London School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom
• ²Poltekkes Kemenkes Kupang, Kupang, Indonesia
• ³China Medical University School of Chinese Medicine, Taichung City, Taiwan

Background: Medicinal plants and natural products are essential for healthcare systems globally, and, at the same time, they are a part of ecosystems being of major socio-economic importance in many regions of the world. However, climate change has threatened their supply and sustainability. This review maps the current state of research on how climate change affects medicinal plants, focusing on ecological shifts, traditional uses, changes in bioactive metabolites, and adaptation strategies. Methods: This scoping review, conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, involved comprehensive searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science published between 2004 and 2024. Data were extracted to summarize study characteristics, climate change factors, species distribution, bioactive metabolites and marker compounds variations, and healthcare implications. Results: 219 studies were included, showing a significant rise in publication after 2021. Most studies were conducted in Asia, especially China and India, while Europe, Africa and South America remain underrepresented. The review covers 367 medicinal plant species, including high-altitude, climate-sensitive species such as Nardostachys jatamansi and Paris polyphylla. Of these, 40,6 % are classified as threatened by the IUCN, and 59,4% remain unevaluated, pointing to significant conservation gaps. Research methods have evolved from basic experiments to advanced computational approaches, notably Species Distribution Modeling (SDM), with MaxEnt being the most widely used. Although climate change is projected to increase habitat suitability for 70 species, it has also led to a decline in suitable habitats for 106 species, range shifts in 94 species, and placed 33 species at risk of extinction and habitat loss. The ecological changes also impact traditional accessibility and the reliability of medicinal plant-based therapies. Moreover, shifts in bioactive metabolite production, including both increases and decreases, are linked to several environmental factors, such as rising temperatures, elevated CO₂, reduced precipitation, and drought stress. Conclusion: Climate change is reshaping the ecology and pharmacological value of medicinal plants. While adaptation strategies exist, their implementation remains limited. An interdisciplinary, coordinated response is urgently needed to ensure sustainable production and use. This will also require a paradigm shift in all aspects of ethnopharmacological research and development.