Climate-Driven Modulation of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Implications for Medicinal Quality, Standardization, and Therapeutic Efficacy
Abstract
Secondary metabolites are key biochemical compounds regulating plant defense mechanisms, ecological interactions, and environmental adaptation processes. Terpenoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and polyketides play roles in plant–microbe and plant–herbivore interactions while serving as sources of pharmacologically important compounds. Climate change, including increased temperature, altered precipitation, elevated CO₂, and UV-B radiation, affects plant metabolite biosynthesis. This review aims to examine the effects of climate change on secondary metabolism. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Results show that elevated CO₂ increases phenolics and flavonoids, while heat and drought stress enhance terpenoid and alkaloid biosynthesis via ROS-mediated signaling and transcription factors including MYB, bHLH, WRKY, and NAC families. UV-B radiation also increases flavonoid accumulation. In conclusion, climate change significantly affects plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Analytical Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology (Other), Basic Pharmacology, Medicinal Plants
Journal Section
Review
Authors
Ufuk Kuşkun
*
0000-0002-8000-708X
Türkiye
Publication Date
April 30, 2026
Submission Date
February 23, 2026
Acceptance Date
April 30, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 1