Review Paper:
Comparative Phytochemical
Analysis of Wild Vs. Cultivated Medicinal Plants: Implications for Bioactivity
Pammi Sravanthi S.S.
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine;
Vol. 13(3); 5-19;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1303ijasvm05019; (2025)
Abstract
Medicinal plants have been at the forefront of both traditional remedies and modern
drug discovery. The shift from wild harvesting to cultivation has raised concerns
regarding the consistency and potency of phytochemicals. They have long served as
a cornerstone of traditional healing systems and modern pharmacological research
due to their rich reservoir of bioactive compounds, especially secondary metabolites
such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics and terpenoids. However, the concentration
and diversity of these phytochemicals can vary significantly depending on whether
the plants are wild or cultivated.
This study undertakes a comparative analysis of the phytochemical composition and
associated bioactivities of selected wild and cultivated medicinal plant species
to better understand how ecological and agronomic factors influence their therapeutic
potential. By integrating analytical techniques, case studies, graphs and emerging
strategies, we emphasize the need for sustainable cultivation practices that maintain
the medicinal value of plant-based therapeutics and call for a balanced and sustainable
approach that preserves the bioactive richness of wild species while enhancing the
medicinal potential of cultivated ones through informed cultivation and conservation
practices.
