Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6260 Climate Change Could Endanger Medicinal Plants - Nutraceuticals World

What are you searching for?

Sign in
Market Updates

Climate Change Could Endanger Medicinal Plants

Climate change is affecting medicinal and aromatic plants around the world and could ultimately lead to losses of some key species, according to researchers and conservationists.

Author Image

By: Sean Moloughney

Editor, Nutraceuticals World

Climate change is affecting medicinal and aromatic plants around the world and could ultimately lead to losses of some key species, according to researchers and conservationists, as reported in HerbalGram, the quarterly journal of the American Botanical Council (ABC).

The article “The Effects of Climate Change on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,” was posted online and distributed to ABC members this week. The article is based on recent climate change research and the perspectives of 15 scientific researchers, medicinal plant conservation experts and others.

Species endemic to regions or ecosystems that are especially vulnerable to climate change, such as Arctic and alpine regions, could be most at risk, according to experts. Rhodiola rosea of the Canadian Arctic and snow lotus (Saussurea laniceps) of the Tibetan mountains are specifically identified as medicinal species that could face significant threats from climate change.

Researchers who have studied medicinal plants of Arctic and alpine areas and discovered potential threats posed by climate change provide information on their findings. The article further explores effects of climate change that appear to be impacting plants—including medicinals—throughout the world. For example, climate change has led to shifts in seasonal timing and/or ranges for many plants, which could ultimately endanger some wild medicinal populations.

Extreme weather events, meanwhile, have begun to impact the production and harvesting of various medicinal plants around the world. For instance, recent abnormally hot summers have prevented reseeding of medicinal plants such as chamomile (Matricaria recutita) in Germany and Poland, and increasingly severe flooding in Hungary has reduced harvests of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and anise (Pimpinella anisum) in that country.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Get the latest Nutraceuticals World news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

Add Nutraceuticals World as a preferred source on Google (opens in a new tab)

Keep Up With Our Content. Subscribe To Nutraceuticals World Newsletters