Work

Climate Change Threats to Medicinal Plants: Progress in Impact Assessments and Implications for Pharmaceutical Sustainability

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: With the intensification of global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, medicinal plants are facing unprecedented challenges to their survival environments. Understanding the impacts of ecological threats on medicinal plants is crucial for formulating conservation strategies and ensuring the sustainable utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) resources. Methods: This study employed a scoping review methodology to systematically search databases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, and PubMed, incorporating both Chinese and English literature. A conceptual map was constructed to analyze the response mechanisms, distribution changes, and conservation status of medicinal plants under ecological threats. Results: The review synthesizes a wide range of evidence from both Chinese and international literature. Our mapping reveals that: (1) Ecological threats are extensively documented, with habitat loss and climate change being the primary drivers; (2) The responses of medicinal plants are mainly manifested as population decline, range shifts, and alterations in secondary metabolites; (3) Current conservation efforts focus heavily on ex-situ protection, while research on climate change adaptation management remains insufficient. Conclusion: This study systematically outlines the current research landscape regarding medicinal plants under ecological threats, revealing the characteristics and gaps in existing evidence. Future research should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on adaptive evolution and ecological restoration technologies to address the escalating environmental challenges. Methods：Search Strategy：A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The search was restricted to articles published from January 2015 to May 5. The search strategy combined terms related to climate change (e.g., "climate change", "global warming", "drought stress", "elevated CO₂") and medicinal plants (e.g., "medicinal plant*", "herbal medicine", "traditional Chinese medicine"). Targeted searches for specific species (e.g., Scutellaria baicalensis, Panax ginseng, Gastrodia elata) were also performed. Eligibility Criteria：Peer-reviewed original research articles, reviews, and authoritative reports (e.g., IPCC Assessment Reports) were included if they addressed climate change impacts on medicinal plant distribution, physiology, biochemistry, molecular mechanisms, or quality. Articles published in English or Chinese were included. Conference abstracts, editorials, and non-peer-reviewed materials were excluded. Only articles published from 2015 onwards were considered. Selection of Sources of Evidence：Title and abstract screening was performed by one author (Y.C.). Full-text screening was subsequently conducted by the same author against the eligibility criteria. To verify consistency, the other author (Z.Z.) independently screened a random 20% sample of the included full-text articles. Disagreements between the two authors were resolved through discussion. The retrieved records were compiled and managed manually. Data Charting Process：A data-charting form was developed by the two authors (Y.C. and Z.Z.) to extract relevant information based on the review objectives. The form was pilot-tested on three randomly selected articles and refined iteratively. The following information was extracted from each included source: (1) article characteristics (author, year, country, plant species); (2) climate stressors examined (e.g., warming, drought, elevated CO₂); (3) reported impacts on distribution, phenology, physiology, and active components; (4) physiological, molecular, and ecological mechanisms; and (5) adaptation strategies. Data were extracted by Y.C. and verified by Z.Z. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. Critical Appraisal of Individual Sources of Evidence：Consistent with the scoping review objective of mapping the breadth of existing evidence, a formal critical appraisal of methodological quality was not performed. This decision aligns with PRISMA-ScR guidance, which notes that critical appraisal is optional in scoping reviews.

Source: Plants

DOI: 10.3390/plants15132009

Authors: Yixian Cheng, Zilong Zhang

Institution: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Species Distribution and Climate Change

Subfield: Ecological Modeling

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258