Most of the secondary metabolites that are present in plants are an outcome of stress response- adverse weather, disease, pests etc. High mountain plants or alpine vegetation is exposed to cold weather, lower water uptake hence water stress and so on. All these factors may contribute to higher accumulation of secondary metabolites and many of them may have therapeutic properties.

I have not found any citings to this effect, but intend to do some investigations into this exact area in New Mexico looking at osha/chuchupate Ligusticum porterii, very popular over here in old New Spain.

Most ethnobotanical investigations on floral species such as medicinal ones were compared and focused on isolated communities such as those growing on higher elevations closer to mountain tops. Most of the phytoremedies described by informants represents and or obtained from mountainous or wooded areas. The ethnobotanicity index applied to useful plants like medicinal weeds indicates a good level of traditional plant knowledge ( TPK ). Literature review showed that the use of traditional medicinal herbs and plants are complimentary aids to routine pharmaceutical market products. Due to scarcity of recent studies in relation to its effectiveness and phytogeographical attributes, there seems no extensive data nor scientific investigations had been on comparing its medical or therapeutic properties. However, it is noteworthy to appreciate that some studies underwent to evaluate the healthcare practices of indigenous peoples to human health care and further researches had been recently experimenting on the herbs and weeds to arrive at more precise scientific results as to its bioactive components and pharmacological actions and the benefits derived from medicinal plants.

Every region of the world has its own useful medicinal plants, but the use of these plants depends on the culture and the ethnopharmacological knowledge of the native people of these regions, but it is noticed that the geographical isolation is an important factor to develop the ethnopharmacology due to the obligation to find new sources of medicine.

High elevations like mountains r isolated and contain naturally growing flora, these places conserve biodiversity more than low lands where agricultural practices, urbanization, industrialization etc, disturb biodiversity and wild flora doesn't find equal chances to flourish, since the mountains are generally undisturbed places where biodiversity is found conserved, therefore wild plants including medicinal plants are frequently found naturally growing in such places.

Not exactly that,however further research is required in that field.

Possibily efficacy of contents is more and not degraded due to low/subzero temperature in high elevations!

I do not think so.

Not really . Infact plants from low lands like coastal plants and dry area tends have more effects on drug development. May be the the compounds are more effective

Every plant has its specific character which might have compounds for specific drug. Most of the worker like to work in cool environment of mountain and explored more medicinal plants than in the other areas.

Most of the secondary metabolites that are present in plants are an outcome of stress response- adverse weather, disease, pests etc. High mountain plants or alpine vegetation is exposed to cold weather, lower water uptake hence water stress and so on. All these factors may contribute to higher accumulation of secondary metabolites and many of them may have therapeutic properties.

It is interesting to see whether only 'cultural perception' or ' stress physiology' or both are applicable here. We are working in the Highlands of Ethiopia..+.2500 M above mean sea level..we never considered this issue....we shall try to explore.

Another factor may be important is water content....following Nirmal, water content will be lower in higher altitudes...so active ingredients may be more concentrated while in lower altitude this may be otherwise.

I am currently looking for some references supporting this "cultural perception" of a higher effectiveness of high mountain our extreme ambient plants. Any work from anywhere referring this local perception would be appreciated. Thanks

No, I don't think so because quality of plants are depends on three things water, soil and environment, if plant get adequate at anywhere then plants compromised their qualities.

i dont think that high-mountain medicinal plants popularly considered more effective than lowlad one. they differ interms of species. to my experince in herbal medicines, i have strong feelings that plants in the low alnds are more stronger especially thise in the semi dry tropics lands.

Yussuf Kombo: [email protected] - Zanzibar

Dear all

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There are both phytochemical and cultural factors at play here.

Aloha Guillermo,

Iʻm a Hawaiian practitioner of the herbs and was taught--from my cultural perspective only--that the plant(s) that are chosen to be used in making a treatment or cure for any particular ailment is revealed by Akua (God) to the healer. The healer, although depending on Akua for guidance, is himself knowledgeable in the characteristics of the plant through years of observation, gathering, processing and application. In essence, Akua reveals which plants to use whether or not they are located in the mountains or by the seashore; it really depends on the need of the ill person.

To answer your question, from at least one cultural perspective--and there are many, "Are high-mountain medicinal plants popularly considered more effective than lowland ones?", I submit, no. In one Hawaiian healing tradition and depending on the illness, it isnʻt good to have the most potent herb to heal a person; rather a gradual increase in health is preferred and the plants with the lowest potency and efficacy are gathered. In all, the local and regional healing perceptions on human health and the use of botanicals for their phytotherapeutic properties must be considered on a case by local region basis. I think that everyones statements posted here have great value and are great leads for your inquiry.

Hello all. High mountain medicinal plants consist of high medicinal value secondary metabolites. Actually with altitude secondary metabolites content increases due to changes in other factor such as high light intensity and low temperatture. At high altitude under low temperature plant cant take proper growth, so carbon allocated for the growth of the plant get transfer for secondary metabolite production.

I am of the opinion that some of the high mountain plants may have high medicinal value and some lowland plants may also possess more components of medicinal significance. The medicinal activity of the plants, not only depends upon the altitude and some other factors are also contributing into it.

High altitude plants possesses unique assemblage of chemical properties because of unique environment. The high acceptance and usage of high altitude medicinal plants is further valued due to the culture, belief and availability. In high altitude areas, the communities are indigenous, homogeneous and the limited resources are extensively used resulting medicinal plants are inseparable.

A medicinal plant available at different agro-climetic zones show difference in the content of its phytochemicals,both qualitative and quantitatively. This may be due to soil (micronutrient available in the soil of a particular zone), rainfall,temperature, altitude etc. But ,I think, It also depends on the POLLUTION of the area as well as ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZER and INSECTICIDES applied during its intended cultivation also.

Plants naturally growing in the high mountain area are almost devoid of these effects.This may also have some effect.

Dr.S.Pattanayak

If the problem is still actual, I suggest to study sansai, Japanese mountain vegetables.

Callaway et al 2002 (Nature 417(20):844-848) revealed the positive interactions among alpine plants in stressed environment. If the plants are in positive interactions, they are not necessarily to be active to produce high molecular weight products (defensive products). Thus these plants are likely to produce more qualitative products and possesses more effective constituents.

In a way you can say "YES". That is because the plants from high altitude, due to high stress and survival challenges develop higher amounts and varieties of secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites are the sources for drug formulations. It is not true at the same time that plants from the lower altitude do not possess secondary metabolite. However, the concentration of these might be low or negligible for extraction. At the same time if a plant from low altitude is subjected to any stress (other than the environmental or environmental) then it may also yield substantial amounts of secondary metabolites.