Home Physical Sciences Chapter 3 Challenges encountered in growing medicinal and aromatic plants
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Chapter 3 Challenges encountered in growing medicinal and aromatic plants

  • Fatemeh Ahmadi , Maximilian Lackner and August Starzinger
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
This chapter is in the book Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Abstract

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are invaluable resources, widely utilized across diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and food production, due to their rich composition of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics. These compounds possess potent medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, making them essential in the health and wellness sectors. Despite their economic and therapeutic significance, the cultivation of MAPs presents multifaceted challenges. Environmental stresses, including salinity, drought, heat, and soil pH imbalances, significantly affect their growth, metabolism, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which are critical for their bioactivity. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the physiological and biochemical responses of MAPs to various abiotic stresses, highlighting the intricate mechanisms plants use to adapt and survive under unfavorable conditions. It explores the role of stress in modulating secondary metabolite production, often enhancing their concentration but at the potential cost of biomass yield. Additionally, the chapter delves into the industrial applications of MAP-derived compounds, emphasizing their importance in pharmaceuticals for drug development, cosmetics for natural formulations, and agriculture for eco-friendly pest and disease management solutions. Strategies for mitigating challenges in MAP cultivation are discussed, including integrated pest management, sustainable soil and water management practices, and the optimization of light intensity. Emerging technologies such as precision agriculture, genetic and epigenetic modifications, and advanced metabolomics approaches are presented as potential solutions to enhance MAP productivity and quality. The chapter also addresses global issues, including the impact of climate change on MAP cultivation, regulatory hurdles, and the need for equitable benefit-sharing in the use of traditional medicinal plants. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements, this chapter underscores the potential of MAPs to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and produce high-quality medicinal compounds. Future perspectives emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research to overcome the 120challenges in MAP cultivation, ensuring their continued role in supporting global health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.

Abstract

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are invaluable resources, widely utilized across diverse industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and food production, due to their rich composition of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics. These compounds possess potent medicinal properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, making them essential in the health and wellness sectors. Despite their economic and therapeutic significance, the cultivation of MAPs presents multifaceted challenges. Environmental stresses, including salinity, drought, heat, and soil pH imbalances, significantly affect their growth, metabolism, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which are critical for their bioactivity. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the physiological and biochemical responses of MAPs to various abiotic stresses, highlighting the intricate mechanisms plants use to adapt and survive under unfavorable conditions. It explores the role of stress in modulating secondary metabolite production, often enhancing their concentration but at the potential cost of biomass yield. Additionally, the chapter delves into the industrial applications of MAP-derived compounds, emphasizing their importance in pharmaceuticals for drug development, cosmetics for natural formulations, and agriculture for eco-friendly pest and disease management solutions. Strategies for mitigating challenges in MAP cultivation are discussed, including integrated pest management, sustainable soil and water management practices, and the optimization of light intensity. Emerging technologies such as precision agriculture, genetic and epigenetic modifications, and advanced metabolomics approaches are presented as potential solutions to enhance MAP productivity and quality. The chapter also addresses global issues, including the impact of climate change on MAP cultivation, regulatory hurdles, and the need for equitable benefit-sharing in the use of traditional medicinal plants. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements, this chapter underscores the potential of MAPs to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and produce high-quality medicinal compounds. Future perspectives emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research to overcome the 120challenges in MAP cultivation, ensuring their continued role in supporting global health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Part I: Introduction
  4. Chapter 1 The importance of medicinal and aromatic plants for living things 1
  5. Chapter 2 Methods of obtaining drugs from medicinal and aromatic plants 41
  6. Chapter 3 Challenges encountered in growing medicinal and aromatic plants 119
  7. Chapter 4 Medicinal and aromatic plants that are toxic 155
  8. Part II: Effect of stress factors on medicinal and aromatic plants
  9. Chapter 5 Impact of drought stress on the medicinal and aromatic plants’ biochemistry 197
  10. Chapter 6 Impact of salinity stress on medicinal and aromatic plant biotechnology 229
  11. Chapter 7 Impact of heavy metal on the medicinal and aromatic plants’ biochemistry 265
  12. Chapter 8 Metabolic and hormonal responses of medicinal and aromatic plants to abiotic stress 299
  13. Part III: Pharmaceutical use of medicinal plants
  14. Chapter 9 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in burn treatment 327
  15. Chapter 10 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in respiratory diseases 363
  16. Chapter 11 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antioxidant properties 385
  17. Chapter 12 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antibacterial properties 417
  18. Part IV: Uses of medicinal and aromatic plants in other areas
  19. Chapter 13 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in cosmetics 457
  20. Chapter 14 Edible medicinal and aromatic plants 491
  21. Chapter 15 The mysteries of Moroccan nature: aromatic plants and their therapeutic medicinal properties 513
  22. Chapter 16 The use of medicinal and aromatic plants in aromatherapy 547
  23. Chapter 17 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antioxidant properties 581
  24. Chapter 18 Medicinal and aromatic plants with anti-parasitic properties 611
  25. Chapter 19 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in personal care products 651
  26. Chapter 20 Genotoxic effects of medicinal and aromatic plants 681
  27. Chapter 21 Applicability of start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism markers in determining genetic diversity in medicinal and aromatic plants 707
  28. Index 743
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111469713-003

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Part I: Introduction
  4. Chapter 1 The importance of medicinal and aromatic plants for living things 1
  5. Chapter 2 Methods of obtaining drugs from medicinal and aromatic plants 41
  6. Chapter 3 Challenges encountered in growing medicinal and aromatic plants 119
  7. Chapter 4 Medicinal and aromatic plants that are toxic 155
  8. Part II: Effect of stress factors on medicinal and aromatic plants
  9. Chapter 5 Impact of drought stress on the medicinal and aromatic plants’ biochemistry 197
  10. Chapter 6 Impact of salinity stress on medicinal and aromatic plant biotechnology 229
  11. Chapter 7 Impact of heavy metal on the medicinal and aromatic plants’ biochemistry 265
  12. Chapter 8 Metabolic and hormonal responses of medicinal and aromatic plants to abiotic stress 299
  13. Part III: Pharmaceutical use of medicinal plants
  14. Chapter 9 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in burn treatment 327
  15. Chapter 10 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in respiratory diseases 363
  16. Chapter 11 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antioxidant properties 385
  17. Chapter 12 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antibacterial properties 417
  18. Part IV: Uses of medicinal and aromatic plants in other areas
  19. Chapter 13 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in cosmetics 457
  20. Chapter 14 Edible medicinal and aromatic plants 491
  21. Chapter 15 The mysteries of Moroccan nature: aromatic plants and their therapeutic medicinal properties 513
  22. Chapter 16 The use of medicinal and aromatic plants in aromatherapy 547
  23. Chapter 17 Medicinal and aromatic plants with antioxidant properties 581
  24. Chapter 18 Medicinal and aromatic plants with anti-parasitic properties 611
  25. Chapter 19 Medicinal and aromatic plants used in personal care products 651
  26. Chapter 20 Genotoxic effects of medicinal and aromatic plants 681
  27. Chapter 21 Applicability of start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism markers in determining genetic diversity in medicinal and aromatic plants 707
  28. Index 743
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 23.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783111469713-003/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button