REVIEW

Responses of Medicinal Plants to Drought: Implications for Secondary Metabolite Production 

Drought places immense stress on the environment, threatening biodiversity, plant growth and productivity worldwide. This burden falls especially hard on medicinal plants grown in arid regions and semi-arid regions. When water is scarce, these plants undergo significant changes in their biochemical and physiological processes. They close their stomata, reduce photosynthesis, and alter their water management processes. These shifts are often accompanied by biochemical adjustments, such as changes in osmotic balance, antioxidant enzyme activity, accumulation of compatible solutes, and modifications in phytohormone levels. Additionally, drought stress can influence the production of secondary metabolites, which are critical for the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of medicinal plants to drought stress, with a focus on how these responses affect the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for improving the cultivation, conservation, and therapeutic quality of medicinal plants under changing environmental conditions.