Endangered and Protected Medicinal Plants in Forest Ecosystems: Diversity, Conservation Status, Therapeutic Potential, and Management Strategies

Abstract

Medicinal plants constitute an essential component of global biodiversity and have long served as a primary source of traditional and modern therapeutic agents. Forest ecosystems harbor a significant proportion of medicinal plant diversity, providing habitats for numerous species with recognized pharmacological value. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, land-use change, forest fragmentation, and climate change, have contributed to the decline of many medicinal plant populations worldwide. Consequently, a growing number of medicinal forest species are now classified as endangered, threatened, vulnerable, or protected under national and international conservation frameworks. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on endangered and protected medicinal plants found in forest ecosystems. A mixed-methods approach combining bibliometric assessment and qualitative literature analysis was employed to evaluate publication trends, geographical distribution, research hotspots, ecological characteristics, genetic resources, pharmacological properties, and conservation strategies related to threatened medicinal forest species. The review identified 77 medicinal plant species of conservation concern distributed across diverse forest regions worldwide, with the highest research activity originating from Asia, particularly India and China. The findings highlight the ecological importance and therapeutic potential of these species while emphasizing the critical threats posed by habitat degradation, unsustainable harvesting, and climate change. Advances in habitat suitability modeling, molecular genetics, ex situ propagation, and conservation planning have improved opportunities for species protection; however, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding population dynamics, long-term conservation effectiveness, and sustainable utilization. Strengthening integrated conservation approaches that combine habitat protection, sustainable management, scientific research, and traditional ecological knowledge is essential for safeguarding endangered medicinal forest plants and ensuring their continued contribution to biodiversity conservation, healthcare, and future drug discovery.