A Review of Genetic Resources of Medicinal Plants in Iran

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Department of forest and rangland, Research and agriculture education center of West Azarbaijan., Urmia, Iran.

2 Department of forest and rangland, Research and agriculture education center of West Azarbaijan., Urmia, Iran

10.22091/ethc.2025.12881.1059

Abstract

Objective: One of the most important aspects of plant biodiversity is medicinal plants and their genetic resources. At present, many countries have been collecting plant genetic resources of ecological regions which include the drug plants. Nowadays, with emerging drug plants diversity, new horizons have been visible on these plants’ species diversity, conservation and stable use. Medicinal plants is a new emerging industry in agricultural sector which has an average annual growth of 5.15 percent. Continuous export of medicinal plants requires conservation of habitats and creating ex situ conservation technics. The purpose of this study is to provide an image of the present situation in Iran medicinal plants genetic reserves and a review on the researches and actions performed until now
Materials and methods: The research method include articles, resources and sites search related to medicinal plants habitats with plant genetic resources as the main key words.
Results: The results showed that though Iran contains diverse medicinal plants flora and high degradation of the plants habitats, conservation of natural habitats and creating ex situ gene storages are essential to prevent threatening plant species and have a stable use of them.
Conclusion:  In Iran, the process of genetic storages and gene banks of medicinal plants are been growing but in-situ conservation is showing an unfavorable status.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Alizadeh Aliabadi, A. (2021). A review of the invasive alien species role in biodiversity loss and how to manage them coordinately at the national and international level. Iranian Journal of Forest and Range Protection Research, 2(19), 231–250.
Allahyari Fard, N. (2014). Biodiversity of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and bioethics. In Proceedings of the Iranian Genetics Congress (First International Congress and Thirteenth National Congress), Tehran, Iran.
Anonymous. (2025). National Center for Genetic and Biological Resources of Iran. Plant bank. National Forests and Rangelands Research Institute, Natural Resources Biotechnology Research Department. Retrieved from http://www.ibrc.ir and http://www.rifr-ac.ir
Baniemam, M., & Kadkhodaei, S. (2024). Biodiversity challenges and genetic resources in Iran. In Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on Agricultural Development, Healthy Land, Karaj, Iran.
Blake, J. (2003). The importance and legal significance of the role of cultural diversity in the preservation of biological diversity. Journal of Environmental Science, 1(1), 15–26.
Chandra De, L. (2016). Biodiversity and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants. Advances in Plants & Agriculture Research, 5(4), 561–566.
Garhwal, U. (2025). Ex situ conservation as field gene bank of medicinal and aromatic plants at Ranichauri, Tehri. International Journal of Botany Studies, 10(1), 23–29.
Hamer, K., & Khoshbakht, K. (2004). Agricultural biodiversity and plant genetic resources. Journal of Environmental Science, 4, 13–34.
Koocheki, A., Nassiri, M., Moradi, R., & Allizadeh, Y. (2011). Meta-analysis of agrobiodiversity in Iran. Journal of Agroecology, 1(2), 1–16.
Kumar Shukla, S. (2023). Conservation of medicinal plants: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Medicinal Botany, 7, 5–10.
Larti, M., Mehrabian, A., Arabsalmani, K., Sarvi, A., & Alaeifar, M. (2024). Ethnobotany, conservation and sustainable development. Research in Ethnobiology and Conservation, 1(1), 10–20.
Mahmoudi, S., & Hamze, B. (2025). Intelligence protection of biodiversity hotspots: The role of new technologies in Iran and the world. Journal of Iran’s Nature, 1(10), 25–39.
Malekian, M., & Jafari, R. (2011). Application of remote sensing technology in biodiversity protection. Journal of Sepehr Geographic Information, 80(2), 18–22.
Mohammadi Fazel, A., Khorasani, N., Abbaspour, M., & Hojjati, S. (2014). Review of the biodiversity conservation strategies of Iran. Journal of Natural Environment, 2(67), 195–206.
Mojarrad, M., & Carvani, V. (2023a). Economic valuation of edible natural plants in local societies (Case study: Urmia County). Journal of Environment and Development, 13(26), 55–62. (in Persian)
Mojarrad, M., & Carvani, V. (2023b). Valuation of natural medicinal plants collected from forests and rangelands of Urmia city and its environmental effects. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 6(25), 107–120. (in Persian)
Monavari, S., & Navazi, A. (2010). The place of environmental impact assessment in biodiversity conservation. Environment and Development Journal, 2(2), 1–9.
Monavari, S., & Rahimi, R. (2010). A comparison of biodiversity integration into environmental impact assessment procedures in I.R. Iran and South Asian countries. Journal of Natural Environment, 66(2), 187–196.
Safarialamouti, P., & Karamidehkordi, E. (2024). Factors affecting rural communities’ perceived biodiversity loss in the Sorkhabad protected area of the Zanjan Province. Journal of Natural Environment, 76(Special Issue), 67–78.
Sefidkon, F. (2020). Protecting the genetic resources of the country's medicinal plants. Journal of Nature, 5(5), 127. (in Persian)
Sorkhi Lelah Lu, B., Poor Esmaeil, M., Mahmoudi, M., & Rasouli, V. (2022). Crop gene banks and natural resources. Journal of Tat’s Reflection, 5(6), 12–15. (in Persian)
Volenzo, T., & Odiyo, J. (2020). Integrating endemic medicinal plants into the global value chains: Ecological degradation challenges and opportunities. Heliyon, 6, 1–11.
Zand, E., & Jalili, A. (2023). The importance of biodiversity in Iran and the world, and the global convention on biological diversity. Journal of Nature, 88(3), 73–89. (in Persian)
Zare, H., Hedenas, L., Akbarinia, M., & Amini, T. (2017). The importance of moss biodiversity conservation in Iran. Journal of Iran’s Nature, 2(4), 56–69.