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Review

Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities

by
Ngawang Gempo
1,2,†,
Karma Yeshi
1,2,*,†,
Darren Crayn
3 and
Phurpa Wangchuk
1,2
1
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook University, Nguma-bada Campus, McGregor Rd., Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
2
College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Services (CPHMVS), James Cook University, Nguma-bada Campus, McGregor Rd., Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
3
Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH), James Cook University, Nguma-bada Campus, McGregor Rd., Cairns, QLD 4878, Australia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Plants 2024, 13(7), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071024
Submission received: 8 March 2024 / Revised: 27 March 2024 / Accepted: 28 March 2024 / Published: 3 April 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products of Medicinal Plants: Isolation, Purification and Bioactivity Evaluation)
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Abstract

:
The Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) in northeast Queensland is home to approximately 18 percent of the nation’s total vascular plant species. Over the past century, human activity and industrial development have caused global climate changes, posing a severe and irreversible danger to the entire land-based ecosystem, and the WTWHA is no exception. The current average annual temperature of WTWHA in northeast Queensland is 24 °C. However, in the coming years (by 2030), the average annual temperature increase is estimated to be between 0.5 and 1.4 °C compared to the climate observed between 1986 and 2005. Looking further ahead to 2070, the anticipated temperature rise is projected to be between 1.0 and 3.2 °C, with the exact range depending on future emissions. We identified 84 plant species, endemic to tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) within the WTWHA, which are already experiencing climate change threats. Some of these plants are used in herbal medicines. This study comprehensively reviewed the metabolomics studies conducted on these 84 plant species until now toward understanding their physiological and metabolomics responses to global climate change. This review also discusses the following: (i) recent developments in plant metabolomics studies that can be applied to study and better understand the interactions of wet tropics plants with climatic stress, (ii) medicinal plants and isolated phytochemicals with structural diversity, and (iii) reported biological activities of crude extracts and isolated compounds.

1. Introduction

Human activity and industrial development have led to significant and irreversible threats to the entire land-based ecosystem in the last century, primarily due to global climate changes. As the average global annual temperature continues to rise by 1 °C compared to the average temperature during the preindustrial era, experts have predicted that the temperature will further rise by 3–5 °C by the end of this century, owing to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG), such as CO2 and methane, in the atmosphere [1,2]. Looking further ahead to 2070, the anticipated temperature rise ranges from 1.0 to 3.2 °C, based on the intensity of future GHG emission [3]. Climate change indirectly impacts species by diminishing the quantity and accessibility of habitat and eliminating species crucial for the survival of the species in question [4]. This impact is significantly felt in the tropical montane (TM) regions within the evergreen forests that are enveloped in persistent and frequent low-level clouds, forming unique ecosystems called TM cloud forests (TMCF) [5]. Indeed, recent studies, including climate model studies [6,7,8], predicted higher rates of temperature increase at higher elevations of TMCF regions than at lower elevations. Furthermore, alterations in reliability and quantity of precipitation in TMCF are anticipated due to reductions in cloud cover [5,9,10,11]. These factors would bring significant challenges to species in TMCF, leading to shifts in altitudinal ranges, reshuffling of species compositions, and increased risk of extinction [5].
The Australian TMCF, situated at or above 900 m in elevation (Figure 1) across the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) of northeast Queensland, Australia, is no exception. Indeed, the impacts of climate change on Australian TMCF are anticipated to manifest within this century as the plant species are particularly vulnerable to climatic stress compared to the lowland species [7,12]. The WTWHA, which is considered the sixth most important protected area globally for conserving biodiversity [13], is home to over 3300 plant species, of which 700+ are endemic to the region, accounting for 18 percent of the nation’s total vascular plant species [14,15]. The ongoing project on climate-affected TMCF plants, led by the Australian Tropical Herbarium (ATH) at James Cook University, has identified 84 plant species vulnerable to climate change’s impact in the WTWHA. Some of these plants are used in traditional medicines, including Aboriginal bush medicines.
Plants affected by climate change or biotic stressors exhibit morphological and physiological plasticity to adapt, survive, and thrive [16]. Their adaptability relies on complex genetic or metabolic detection and communication systems that we are just starting to comprehend. Numerous research investigations have been carried out on various plants, such as Arabidopsis, aiming to unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms that plants exhibit in response to constantly changing environments [17,18,19,20,21]. More recently, technological advancements have enabled the acquisition of molecular data, including phenomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data. These multidisciplinary approaches have enabled a better understanding of plants’ responses to various environmental changes linked to climate change, including drought and cold [22,23]. The plant produces various biomolecules, which serve different biological roles throughout plant life cycles. These biomolecules can be categorized under two major groups: primary metabolites (PMs) and secondary metabolites (SMs). Primary metabolites, such as proteins, sugars, and organic acids, are widely recognized for their role in essential plant physiological processes, including photosynthesis, photorespiration, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle [24,25]. Secondary metabolites, mainly phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, are produced in response to competitive environmental factors for survival and fulfilling various physiological functions [26]. These SMs do not play a direct role in plants’ typical growth and survival; instead, they contribute to plant development and enhance resilience to stress [27]. For example, flavonoids are photo-protectants, shielding plants from damage caused by ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation [28,29]. Similarly, some terpenoids or alkaloids might act as antioxidants or osmotic regulators in response to abiotic stresses in plants [30,31]. In contrast, glucosinolates, limited to specific taxonomic groups, are considered to be essential antitoxins that play a crucial role in enabling plants to resist insect attacks [32].
Understanding the response patterns of these secondary metabolites to potential global climate changes is crucial due to their significance in plant growth, resistance, human health, and conservation efforts. Recently developed powerful omics techniques [33,34,35] and bioimaging [36] and biosensor tools [37,38] have been widely applied for understanding plant physiology, analysing the plant metabolome, and discovering novel metabolomic pathways in response to the changing environment [39]. However, there is no comprehensive review that examined recent metabolomic and phytochemical studies on climate-affected plants of Australian TMCF.
This review comprehensively analysed the literature on the available metabolomics studies conducted on the 84 TMCF plant species and discusses (i) recent developments in plant metabolomics studies that can be applied to study and understand the interactions of wet tropical plants with climatic stress, (ii) medicinal plants and isolated phytochemicals with structural diversity, and (iii) reported biological activities of crude extracts and isolated compounds. In doing so, we compiled and listed the plant species largely restricted to TMCF based on Hoyle et al. (2023) [5]. We compiled additional information from several sources: (i) records in the Atlas of Living Australia [40], (ii) the ‘Rainforest Key’ [41], and (iii) expert knowledge [42]. We searched for studies of metabolomic profiles, medicinal plants use, phytochemical contents, and biological activities in Google Scholar, MEDLINE Ovid, Scopus, PubMed, and journal websites using the following keywords: “wet tropics climate-affected plants”, “secondary metabolites in plants”, “metabolomics studies of plants”, “phytochemical analysis of plants affected by climatic impact”, “biological activities”, and accepted plant names and their synonyms. The information we collected was analysed and presented in tables and figures. Additionally, we utilized ChemDraw Professional software (v. 21.0.0) to create chemical structures, ensuring the accuracy of each structure by cross-referencing them with databases such as PubChem, ChemSpider, and HMDB databases.

2. Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants and Their Medicinal Uses

Using information from Hoyle et al. (2023) [5], expert opinion (botanists from the ATH at James Cook University in Cairns), and other literature, we found 84 climate-affected plant species largely restricted to Australian TMCF. The plant names were cross-checked using the Australian Plant Census [43], WFO Plant List [44], and Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants information system [41]. For these 84 plant species, we generated information on their botanical names, taxonomy, distribution, life form, and medicinal uses (Table 1).
Of the 84 plant species, 54 are restricted to the WTWHA, 2 are endemic to TMCF within the WTWHA, and 4 are found outside Australia (Table 1 and Figure 2A). Of the 84 plant species, 29 were trees, followed by shrubs (28 species) and ferns (8 species) (Table 1 and Figure 2B). These 84 plant species belonged to 34 families, and the Orchidaceae family had the maximum number of species (8 species), trailed by the Ericaceae and Myrtaceae (6 species each) and Proteaceae and Rubiaceae (5 species each) (Figure 2C). Most of the families (15 families) had one species. When checked for their plant uses in traditional medicines, we found that most WTWHA plants were not used medicinally. This could be because most plants are endemic to WTWHA, and although they are used in Aboriginal bush medicines, these endemic species’ medicinal uses are not publicly available. Of 84 species, 43 belong to 29 medicinally important genera (Figure 2D). Of the 43 species, species of Planchonella, Tasmania, and Litsea were particularly indicated as traditionally used by Australian Aboriginal communities to treat various ailments, such as skin sores, scabies, and sore throat, as an antiseptic for boils, malaria, diarrhea, and cough (Table 1). Most of the genera were found to be used for medicinal purposes in traditional medicine systems of Asian countries, such as China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
A report from 2010 by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) [45] indicates that numerous tree species are at risk of experiencing mean temperatures that exceed their typical tolerance levels. To illustrate, the recent increase in temperature may already be placing stress on a lowland tree species that has adapted to thrive within a mean annual temperature range of 23.0 to 24.0 (measured at 200 masl). To survive in a comparable temperature environment, they must relocate more than 1000 m upward by 2080. However, habitat fragmentation will severely constrain their capacity to respond in this way [14]. Table 1 shows the conservation status of 84 Australian TMCF plant species affected by climate change. Of these, nearly half (41 species) are of conservation significance under Queensland State legislation: 21 species are listed as Vulnerable (V, sky blue bar), 6 are Near Threatened (NT, yellow bar), 3 are Endangered (E, light green bar), and 11 are Critically Endangered (CR, light red bar) (Table 1 and Figure 3). The remainder (43 species) are not currently listed as threatened, i.e., are categorized as Least Concern (LC), Special Least Concern (SL), or no conservation status indicated (No).
Through modelling analysis, Costion et al. (2015) [7] projected significant declines in suitable habitat for 19 of the 84 TMCF plant species listed in Table 1, with estimates ranging from 17% to 100% by 2040 and at least 46% by 2080. Roeble (2018) [46] further refined these predictions, modelling 37 plant species (including 8 from Costion’s study) and predicting a mean habitat loss of 63% by 2085. The study predicted that 5 out of 37 modelled species (Acrotriche baileyana, Gynochthodes constipata, Hymenophyllum whitei, Syzygium fratris, Tasmania sp. Mt. Bellenden Ker) will experience a total loss of their suitable habitat by 2035 and another 2 species (Cinnamomum propinquum and Leucopogon malayanus) by 2085 [46]. A substantial increase in the suitable habitat through 2085 was only predicted for Bubbia whiteana. Overall, both studies [7,46] suggest that a significant portion of Australian TMCF plant species are either threatened or vulnerable to climatic stress. Hence, these plants must acclimatize and react swiftly to overcome environmental stresses or face extinction. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend how plants react and adjust to shifts in their environment, striving to enhance their ability to withstand the challenges posed by climate change.
Table 1. List of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants: their distribution, life form, conservation status and medicinal uses.
Table 1. List of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants: their distribution, life form, conservation status and medicinal uses.
Botanical Name, Family, and SynonymsDistributionLife FormMedicinal UsesMetabolomics Profile StudiedConservation Status (QLD)
Pteridophyta
Dryopteridaceae
Parapolystichum grayi (D.J.Jones) J.J.S. Gardner & Nagalingum
Syn. Lastreopsis grayi D.L.Jones		Africa, the Neotropics, north-eastern Australia, Madagascar, Pacific Island, and southern Asia FernNUNoV
Parapolystichum tinarooense (Tindale) Labiak, Sundue & R.C.Moran
Syn. Lastreopsis tinarooensis Tindale		Wet Tropics region (Australia) FernNUNoV
Hymenophyllaceae
Hymenophyllum whitei GoyWet Tropics region (Australia)Fern NUNoCR
Lindsaeaceae
Lindsaea terrae-reginae K.U.KramerWet Tropics region (Australia)FernNUNoE
Lycopodiaceae
Phlegmariurus creber (Alderw.) A.R.Field & Bostock
Syn. Huperzia crebra (Alderw.) Holub		Wet Tropics region (Australia), PNG, HawaiiEpiphyte Phlegmariurus/Huperzia species are traditionally used as vermifuge, purgative, and laxative [47].NoCR
Phlegmariurus delbrueckii (Herter) A.R.Field & Bostock
Syn. Huperzia delbrueckii (Herter) Holub		Wet Tropics region (Australia)Epiphyte NoV
Polypodiaceae
Oreogrammitis albosetosa (F.M.Bailey) Parris
Syn. Polypodium albosetosum F. M.Bailey		Wet Tropics region (Australia)FernNUNo V
Oreogrammitis leonardii (Parris) Parris
Syn. Grammitis leonardii Parris		Wet Tropics region (Australia)FernNUNo V
Oreogrammitis reinwardtii BlumeWet Tropics region (Australia),
Sri Lanka, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Malaysia		FernNUNo V
Oreogrammitis wurunuran (Parris) Parris
Syn. Grammitis wurunuran Parris		Wet Tropics region (Australia)FernNUNo SL
Magnoliophyta
Apiaceae
Trachymene geraniifolia F.M.BaileyWet Tropics region (Australia)HerbNUNo NT
Apocynaceae
Parsonsia bartlensis J.B.WilliamsWet Tropics region (Australia)Climber NUNo V
Araliaceae
Hydrocotyle miranda A.R.Bean & HenwoodWet Tropics region (Australia)HerbHydrocotyle species are used as anti-inflammatory herbs in Taiwanese folk medicines [48].No V
Polyscias bellendenkerensis (F.M.Bailey) PhilipsonWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubPolyscias species are traditionally used to treat ailments, such as malaria, obesity, and mental disorders [49]. No V
Polyscias willmottii (F.Muell.) PhilipsonWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNo LC
Araucariaceae
Agathis atropurpurea B.HylandAustraliaTreeAgathis species are traditionally used to treat myalgia and headaches [50].Yes LC
Arecaceae
Linospadix apetiolatus Dowe & A.K.IrivineWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo LC
Celastraceae
Hypsophila halleyana F.Muell.Wet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNUNo LC
Clusiaceae
Garcinia brassii C.T.WhiteWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeInfusions prepared from fruits of Garcinia species are traditionally used to treat dysentery, ulcers, and wounds [51]. No LC
Cunoniaceae
Ceratopetalum corymbosum C.T.WhiteWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo V
Ceratopetalum hylandii Rozefelds & R.W.BarnesWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo LC
Eucryphia wilkiei B.HylandWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNUYesCR
Ebenaceae
Diospyros granitica JessupWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeDiospyros species are used traditionally used as sedative, astringent, carminative, febrifuge, anti-hypertensive, vermifuge, antidiuretic, and to relieve constipation [52].No NT
Elaeocarpaceae
Elaeocarpus linsmithii GuymerWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeElaeocarpus species are the source of popular spiritual beads (known as Rudraksha in Asia), which are used to treat various ailments, including mental/neurological disorders (stress, depression, anxiety, hypertension, epilepsy, migraine, and neuralgia), asthma, and also used as analgesic [53].No LC
Elaeocarpus hylobroma Y.Baba & CraynWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNo LC
Ericaceae
Acrotriche baileyana (Domin) J.M.PowellWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNUNo NT
Dracophyllum sayeri F.MuellWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo V
Leucopogon malayanus subsp. novoguineensis (Sleumer) Pedley
Syn. Styphelia malayana subsp. novoguineensis (Sleumer) Hislop, Crayn & Puente-Lel.		Wet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNUNo No
Rhododendron lochiae F.Muell.
Syn. Rhododendron notiale, Craven 		Wet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubRhododendron species are used to prevent and treat many ailments, including respiratory disorders like asthma and bronchitis, dysentery, diarrhea, constipation, fever, cardiac disorders, and inflammation [54].No No
Rhododendron viriosum CravenWet Tropics region (Australia) TreeNo LC
Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis DominWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo LC
Escalloniaceae
Polyosma reducta F.Muell.Wet Tropics region (Australia)TreeNUNo LC
Gesneriaceae
Boea kinneari (F.Muell.) B.L.BurttWet Tropics region (Australia)HerbNUNo E
Lenbrassia australiana (C.T.White) G.W.GillettWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNUNo SL
Lamiaceae
Prostanthera albohirta C.T.WhiteMount Emerald, Wet Tropics region (Australia) ShrubSome Prostanthera species are used for topical applications to treat skin sores and infections [55,56]. No CR
Prostanthera athertoniana B.J.Conn & T.C.WilsonWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubNo CR
Lauraceae
Cinnamomum propinquum F.M.BaileyWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeCinnamomum species are most commonly used in traditional Chinese medicines to treat multiple disorders, including indigestion, microbial infections, and cough and cold [57].Yes V
Cryptocarya bellendenkerana B.HylandWet Tropics region (Australia) TreeNUYes LC
Endiandra jonesii B.HylandWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeEndiandra species are traditionally used to treat rheumatism, headache, dysentery, pulmonary disorders, and uterine tumours [58].No V
Litsea granitica B.HylandWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeLitsea species are used traditionally by Aboriginal communities to treat skin infections such as sores and scabies, and also used an antiseptic [59].No V
Myrtaceae
Leptospermum wooroonooran F.M.BaileyWet Tropics region (Australia)TreeLeptospermum species are traditionally used in Malaysia to relieve menstrual and stomach disorders [60,61].Yes LC
Micromyrtus delicata A.R.BeanWet Tropics region (Australia)Shrub NUNo E
Pilidiostigma sessile N.SnowWet Tropics region (Australia) ShrubNUNo LC
Rhodamnia longisepala N.Snow & A.J.FordWet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubRhodamnia species are used traditionally in Indonesia to treat scars, toothache, and cough [62].No CR
Syzygium fratris CravenWet Tropic region (Australia)ShrubNUNo CR
Uromyrtus metrosideros (F.M.Bailey) A.J.ScottWet Tropics region (Australia) ShrubNUYes LC
Orchidaceae
Bulbophyllum lilianiae RendleWet Tropics region (Australia)EpiphyteBulbophyllum species are traditionally used to treat skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and rheumatism [63].No LC
Bulbophyllum wadsworthii Dockrill
Syn. Oxysepala wadsworthii (Dockrill) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.		AustraliaEpiphyteNo SL
Bulbophyllum windsorense B.Gray & D.L.Jones
Syn. Oxysepala windsorensis (B.Gray & D.L.Jones) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.		Wet Tropics region (Australia)EpiphyteNo V
Dendrobium brevicaudum D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.
Syn. Dockrillia brevicauda (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones		Wet Tropics region (Australia)Herb, EpiphyteDendrobium species are used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine systems as a source of tonic for longevity and also as an antipyretic, analgesic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory agent [64].No No
Dendrobium carrii Rupp & C.T.White
Syn. Australorchis carrii (Rupp & C.T.White) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.		Wet Tropics region (Australia)Herb, EpiphyteNo SL
Dendrobium finniganense D.L.Jones
Syn. Thelychiton finniganensis (D.L.Jones) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones		Wet Tropics region (Australia)Herb, EpiphyteNo SL
Liparis fleckeri NichollsWet Tropics region (Australia)LithophyteLiparis species are traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, including haemoptysis, metrorrhagia, traumatic haemorrhage, and pneumonia; they are also used to stop bleeding from wounds and to detoxify snakebite [65]. No No
Octarrhena pusilla (F.M.Bailey) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones
Syn. Octarrhena pusilla (F.M.Bailey) Dockrill		Wet Tropics region (Australia)EpiphyteNUNo SL
Piperaceae
Peperomia hunteriana P.I.Forst.Wet Tropics region (Australia)HerbPeperomia species are traditionally used for treating pain and inflammation, gastric ulcers, asthma, and bacterial infections [66,67].No LC
Podocarpaceae
Prumnopitys ladei (F.M.Bailey) de Laub
Syn. Stachycarpus ladei (Bailey) Gaussen, Podocarpus ladei F.M.Bailey		Endemic to Wet Tropics Australia TreeFruits and bark of Prunmnopitys species are considered medicinal [68].Yes No
Proteaceae
Austromuellera valida B.HylandEndemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeNUNo V
Helicia lewisensis ForemanEndemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeHelicia species are used for treating mouth and skin sores and also kidney and gastric problems [59,69,70,71]. No V
Helicia recurva ForemanEndemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeNo No
Hollandaea porphyrocarpa A.J.Ford & P.H.Weston
Syn. Hollandaea sp. Pinnacle Rock Track (P.I.Forster PIF10714)		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNUNo CR
Nothorites megacarpus (A.S.George & B.Hyland) P.H.Weston & A.R.Mast
Syn. Orites megacarpa A.S.George & B.Hyland		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeNUNo LC
Rubiaceae
Aidia gyropetala A.J.Ford and HalfordEndemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeAidia species are used for treating body/muscle pains and pains due to gastric disorders [72].No LC
Gynochthodes constipata (Halford & A.J.Ford) Razafim. & B.Bremer
Syn. Morinda constipata Halford & A.J.Ford		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionClimber Gynochthodes/Morinda species are traditionally used for treating diabetes, inflammation, cancer, psychiatric disorders, and microbial infections [73].No LC
Gynochthodes podistra (Halford & A.J.Ford) Razafim. & B.Bremer
Syn. Morinda podistra Halford & A.J.Ford		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionClimber No LC
Ixora orophila C.T.White
Syn. Psydrax montigena S.T.Reynolds & R.J.F.Hend.		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubIxora species are used in Ayurvedic medicine against leucorrhoea, hypertension, menstrual irregularities, sprains, bronchitis fever, sores, chronic ulcers, scabies, and skin diseases [74].No No
Wendlandia connata C.T.WhiteEndemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubWendlandia species are traditionally used for treating fever, dysentery, cough, hypertension, diabetes, constipation, inflammations, and hyperlipidemia [75].No NT
Rutaceae
Flindersia oppositifolia (F.Muell.) T.G.Hartley & JessupWet Tropics region (Australia) TreeNUYes V
Leionema ellipticum Paul G. WilsonEndemic to Wet Tropics region ShrubNUYes V
Zieria alata Duretto & P.I.Forst.Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNUNo CR
Zieria madida Duretto & P.I.Forst.Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNUNo CR
Santalaceae
Korthalsella grayi BarlowEndemic to Wet Tropics regionHerb No LC
Sapindaceae
Mischocarpus montanus C.T.White
Syn. Mischocarpus pyriformis subsp. retusus (Radlk.) R.W.Ham, Mischocarpus retusus Radlk.		Wet Tropics region (Australia), New GuineaTreeNUNo LC
Sapotaceae
Pleioluma singuliflora (C.T.White & W.D.Francis) Swenson
Syn. Planchonella singuliflora (C.T.White & W.D.Francis) P.Royen, Pouteria singuliflora (C.T.White & W.D.Francis) Baehni		Endemic to Wet Tropic regionShrubNUNo LC
Sersalisia sessiliflora (C.T.White) Aubrév.
Syn. Pouteria sylvatica Baehni, Lucuma sessiliflora C.T.White		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionTreeNUNo LC
Planchonella sp. Mt. Lewis (B.Hyland 14048) Qld HerbariumEndemic to Wet Tropics regionTree Planchonella species have been used by Aboriginal medicine system to treat sores/sore throat and as an antiseptic for boils [59].No No
Solanaceae
Solanum dimorphispinum C.T.WhiteEndemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubSolanum species have been traditionally used against infectious diseases and also as anti-microbial agents and insecticidal against mosquitoes [76].No LC
Solanum eminens A.R.BeanEndemic to Wet Tropics regionClimber No LC
Symplocaceae
Symplocos bullata Jessup
Syn. Symplocos sp. North Mary (B. Gray 2543)		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubSymplocos species are traditionally known for treating diseases such as malaria, ulcers, leprosy, leucorrhea, menorrhagia, and gynecological disorders [77]. No LC
Symplocos graniticola JessupEndemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNo V
Symplocos oresbia Jessup
Syn. Symplocos sp. Mt Finnigan (L.J. Brass 20129)		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNo NT
Symplocos wooroonooran Jessup
Syn. Symplocos stawellii var. montana C.T.White, Symplocos cochinchinensis var. montana (C.T.White) Noot		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNo NT
Thymelaeaceae
Phaleria biflora (C.T.White) Herber
Syn. Oreodendron biflorum C.T.White		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionTreePhaleria species are used for treating stomachache, general pain, diarrhea, lowering glucose/cholesterol levels in blood, and also known for anti-cancer properties [78].No V
Winteraceae
Bubbia whiteana A.C.Sm.
Syn. Zygogynum semecarpoides var. whiteanum Vink, Bubbia semecarpoides var. whiteana Vink		Endemic to Wet Tropics regionShrubNUNo CR
Tasmannia sp. Mt Bellenden Ker (J.R.Clarkson 6571)Wet Tropics region (Australia)ShrubTasmania species are traditionally used for treating malaria, diarrhea, and cough [79].No LC
The scientific names and plant families follow the Australian Plant Census. Where taxonomy differs in “Plants of the World Online” [80], the synonym is given; distribution and plant life forms were sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia Field [41], the Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants system Field [42], and the Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids [81]. Conservation status is as per the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 [82]. Abbreviations—SL: Special Least Concern; LC: Least Concern; NT: Near Threatened; V: Vulnerable; E: Endangered; CR: Critically Endangered; No: Species for which no conservation status is indicated; NU: Not used medicinally.
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Figure 2. Climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA), northeast Queensland: (A) distribution, (B) life form, (C) family diversity, and (D) medicinally important genus with species number. Distribution and plant life forms were sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia Field [41], the Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants system Field [42], and the Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids [81]. Conservation status is as per the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 [82].
Figure 2. Climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA), northeast Queensland: (A) distribution, (B) life form, (C) family diversity, and (D) medicinally important genus with species number. Distribution and plant life forms were sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia Field [41], the Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants system Field [42], and the Australian Tropical Rainforest Orchids [81]. Conservation status is as per the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 [82].
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Figure 3. Conservation status of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) in northeast Queensland. Conservation status is as per the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 [82]. Different conservation status categories are represented by different colour codes, as shown in the figure legend, and numbers on bar plots represent plant species numbers.
Figure 3. Conservation status of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) in northeast Queensland. Conservation status is as per the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 [82]. Different conservation status categories are represented by different colour codes, as shown in the figure legend, and numbers on bar plots represent plant species numbers.
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3. Metabolomic Profile of Climate-Affected Plants in WTWHA

The anticipated impact of global climate changes on plant secondary metabolism is significant, but a comprehensive understanding of these effects is currently absent. Changes in the metabolome (defined as the complete set of metabolites found in a biological sample) can occur rapidly in seconds or minutes due to living organisms’ responses, acclimation, and adaptation to environmental conditions [83,84,85]. Investigations into climate effects on plants have shown that plants growing under various climatic stresses in their natural habitat produce various SMs that could potentially have a role in adaptation to the changing environment [86,87,88]. Studies have also revealed that abiotic stress factors, such as increased temperature and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stimulate plants to reprogram their genetic codes for metabolic pathways, leading to the accumulation of new and unique secondary metabolites [89].
For example, it was demonstrated that elevated temperatures can lead to increased production of terpenoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids in plants [90,91]. These compounds act as protective pigments when trees are exposed to UV-B radiation (wavelengths between 280 and 315 nm) [92]. Likewise, higher ozone (O3) concentrations have been linked to heightened production of antioxidant compounds such as glutathione, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), terpenoids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [93]. For example, the production of phenolics in plants plays an integral part in protecting mesophyll tissue from UV radiation and water stress [94,95]. It was discovered that drought conditions enhance plant productivity, leading to increased production of SMs, terpenes, complex phenols, and alkaloids [96,97,98]. Moreover, secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties, such as phenolic compounds and tocopherols, were known to scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated, thus adapting to a new environment [99].
In addition to metabolites, plants store proteins like hydrolases, enzymes for detoxifying ROS, and enzymes for modifying cell walls. These proteins act as regulatory agents, governing plant growth and development [100]. Similarly, salinity also impacts the plant’s growth and development. It leads to an abnormal ion composition, causing toxicity, osmotic stress, producing ROS, cellular harm, and degrading membrane lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids [99]. In response to saline soil stress, plants undergo a biochemical process that produces ions that can act against ion toxicity and abnormal osmotic pressure developed from salinity [101]. In addition, when a huge amount of sodium (Na+) ions prevails, plants respond to an abundance of Na+ ions by activating a sophisticated defence system, which enables them to regulate cellular and ion balance effectively [102].
These studies enable us to understand the metabolite/micronutrient change patterns, including compositions, variations, and biosynthetic pathways resulting from plants’ responses to biotic and abiotic stressors, collectively known as plant metabolomics [103,104]. It can provide insights into plant phenotypic relations to their physiological and resistance development and biodiversity [105]. More than 200,000 secondary metabolites (SMs) have been identified [106] from over 391,000 plant species known worldwide [107] through metabolomics studies. The projected number for the plant kingdom is expected to surpass 200,000 [108,109]. Hence, plant metabolomics poses a significant hurdle for researchers in plant science. The comprehensive research workflow in plant metabolomics encompasses experimental planning, sample gathering, sample handling, sample preparation, detection and examination, data handling, as well as the analysis of metabolic pathways and networks [110].
From our literature review on 84 plant species affected by climate change in WTWHA of northeast Queensland, only nine species were studied for their metabolomic profiles/phytochemical contents (Table 2). A total of 279 metabolites (251 identified and 18 isolated) were identified/isolated from parts of 9 plant species. The identified metabolites were mostly flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and glucosides (Table 2). However, none of these metabolomics studies included in Table 2 were conducted to investigate their response to climatic stress conditions under in situ or ex situ conditions. There is a need for this type of study, but the challenge would be to control various factors influencing plant responses, which is why we see most of the studies conducted under controlled conditions in glass houses. Currently, our group is conducting a first-of-its-kind study on selected WTWHA plants, in which we are comparing the metabolome profile and chemical variation between the wild and the domesticated plant population.

4. Metabolomics Approaches, Tools, and Techniques Used in Plant Metabolomics

Understanding plants’ physiological and metabolomic responses to global change is key to identifying potential traits, including their genetic mutations and changes in their metabolomic pathways. Additionally, it is possible to predict potential changes in the composition of plant communities by assessing the ability of various plant species to adapt to environmental shifts [147,148]. Metabolites from living matters can be identified using (i) isolation techniques and (ii) metabolomics platforms. Metabolomics platforms, in general, rely on mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques, namely capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) [149,150]. We found that GC-MS is the most used technique among the studies that analysed metabolites of Australian TMCF plants. Out of nine plants studied for metabolomics included in this review, metabolites from seven species were analysed using GC-MS (Table 2). Two innovative technological methods that do not require the use of metabolite chromatography include Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis of unrefined extracts and the direct inspection of unrefined extracts using mass spectrometry (MS), specifically either quadrupole (Q) TOF-MS or ultra-high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron MS (FT-MS) [105], which are discussed in-depth in later sections. Compared to conventional methods in the postgenomic era, metabolomics analysis offers numerous advantages and potential applications [150]. It has various steps, as shown in Figure 4, including sample preparation, spectra processing, data analysis, and metabolite identification.
The NMR-based metabolomic analysis offers a potent, non-invasive method, delivering precise structural details about metabolites [151]. While metabolomic analysis using mass spectrometry is inherently destructive, it is highly sensitive and can detect traces of metabolites, and thus, it has gained more popularity [152]. Mass spectrometry (MS) methods are frequently integrated with chromatographic separation methods, including gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) [152]. Only one metabolomics study applied LC-MS and NMR techniques to analyse the alkaloid diversity in the leaves of Australian Flindersia species, including F. oppositifolia (Table 2). Since the metabolome is a complex mixture of many small molecules, chromatographic separation is necessary prior to ion detection, particularly to distinguish isobaric compounds with a similar mass. Alternatively, the direct-infusion mass spectrometry (DIMS) approach is applied to measure metabolites directly without a prior chromatographic separation [153]. However, none of the studies that analysed Australian TMCF plants have applied either of these techniques. Most of the studies on plant-based metabolomics published so far have used the Orbitrap or TOF (time-of-flight) equipment [154]. One of the main reasons for using TOF equipment could be due to its mass resolution values (i.e., 30,000–40,000) [155,156], and the resolution power is unaffected by chromatography acquisition rates [157,158,159]. On the contrary, Orbitrap mass spectrometers can rapidly acquire tandem MS spectra up to 240,000 mass resolution, and thus, they are mainly applied in the shotgun metabolomics [157,160,161].
The DIMS methodology has recently been expanded to swift, high-throughput fingerprinting techniques employing advanced mass spectrometers with high resolution, such as Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometers (FT-ICR-MS) [157]. Its extensive usage in plant metabolomics greatly helped understand plant development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and exploring novel natural nutraceutical compounds [154,162]. The FT-ICR-MS has a higher resolution power (105 to >106), mass accuracy (typically 0.1–2 ppm), and sensitivity [163,164]. For instance, FT-ICR-MS can analyse and evaluate approximately 50,000 molecular formulas in complex samples, such as plant-derived crude essential oils [165,166]. Another reason for more usage of FT-ICR-MS is that this instrument has a wide range of ionisation sources, including electron spray ionisation (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, and photoionization, thus enabling analyses of different sample types [167]. For example, Shahbazya et al. (2020) [168] used FT-ICR-MS to study the response of thyme plants (Thymus vulgaris) to drought stress. The study identified galactose metabolism as the most significant factor in drought adaptive response in thyme. Other studies, including metabolomics changes in poplar species in response to salinity stress [169] and UV-B radiation, also applied the same technique [170].
Nevertheless, because metabolites exhibit various chemical properties and are found abundantly in various cells, no single analytical platform can encompass the entire metabolome. Therefore, multi-omics technology has enabled the exploration of genes and metabolites in response to various climatic stress factors, particularly by combining transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches. For instance, Wang et al. (2021) [23], in their study about Poa crymophila, applied transcriptomics and metabolomics and identified the phenylpropanoid pathway as the main mechanism that facilitates this plant to survive in the unfavourable environment of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Liu et al. (2021) [22] also applied a combination of transcriptomics with physiological analyses to understand the chilling response in pumpkins and found that α-linolenic acid biosynthesis was one of the key pathways in the response.
These instruments employ three approaches to characterize metabolites, namely, (i) targeted analysis, (ii) untargeted analysis, and (iii) metabolic fingerprinting [171]. Unlike the targeted approach (identify a set of targeted metabolites with reference to available standards), the untargeted approach generates a large volume and complex data requiring specialised computational methods, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms, to process and interpret data [171]. In contrast, metabolic fingerprinting or exometabolomics involves characterising extracellular metabolites (i.e., metabolic by-products of organisms produced in response to environmental factors in which they survive) [172,173]. For plant metabolomic profiling, “ecometabolomics” is a commonly applied technique. The term “ecometabolomics” first appeared in the scientific literature in 2009 [33,174]. This study investigates how living organisms respond, acclimate, and adapt to environmental conditions by a nontargeted approach [83,84,85]. Metabolite identification can be achieved at four metabolite standard initiative (MSI) levels. Metabolite standard initiative level-1 (MSI-1) is considered the highest level of identification as it identifies metabolites after comparing with their chemical standards [175,176]. Level-2 (MSI-2) and level-3 identifications are only putative, as metabolites (MSI-2) or metabolite class (MSI-3) are not compared to their chemical standards, whereas MSI level-4 (MSI-4) putatively annotates unknown metabolites [175,176].
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Figure 4. Common metabolomic workflow applied in plant metabolomics studies. The figure was adapted from Xu and Fu [177], and all databases’ logos used in this figure were obtained from their respective websites. Abbreviations—LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; 1D: one-dimensional; 2D: two-dimensional; GC-MS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; QTRAP: The Quadrupole Ion Trap; XCMS: eXtensible Computational Mass Spectrometry; HMDB: Human metabolome database; PCA: principal component analysis; OPLS-DA: Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis; NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology; METLIN: Metabolite and chemical entity database.
Figure 4. Common metabolomic workflow applied in plant metabolomics studies. The figure was adapted from Xu and Fu [177], and all databases’ logos used in this figure were obtained from their respective websites. Abbreviations—LC-MS: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; 1D: one-dimensional; 2D: two-dimensional; GC-MS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; QTRAP: The Quadrupole Ion Trap; XCMS: eXtensible Computational Mass Spectrometry; HMDB: Human metabolome database; PCA: principal component analysis; OPLS-DA: Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis; NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology; METLIN: Metabolite and chemical entity database.
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5. Phytochemicals Isolated from Climate-Affected Plants in WTWHA

Out of 84 plant species included in this review, phytochemicals were isolated from only 3 plant species, namely, Uromyrtus metrosideros, Flindersia oppositifolia, and Leionema ellipticum (Table 2). A total of 19 compounds/secondary metabolites were isolated from these 3 plant species (Table 2), and these compounds belong to 4 different chemical groups (alkaloids, flavonoids, benzopyrans, and glucosides). For example, two new galloyl glucosides (galloyl-lawsoniaside A and uromyrtoside) and four known compounds were isolated from Uromyrtus metrosideros [132]. These six compounds were characterised using low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry (L/HRMS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All three studies involving three plants were conducted to identify pharmacological drug leads (U. metrosideros and F. oppositifolia) and solve the taxonomic discrepancies (L. ellipticum). They did not suggest their role in response to climatic stress factors.

6. Pharmacological Activities of Isolated Phytochemicals of Climate-Affected Plants in WTWHA

Studies have suggested that SMs, which function as plant defence mechanisms, possess intriguing pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [178]. For instance, a novel galloyl-lawsoniaside A isolated from U. metrosideros leaf significantly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma and interleukins-17 (IL-17) and IL-18, and thus was identified as a new anti-inflammatory drug-lead molecule [132]. Osthol isolated from Leionema ellipticum also showed anti-inflammatory activity [143,146]. A study by Yeshi et al. [178] analysed crude extracts from the leaves of seven plant species endemic to WTWHA of FNQ. Five of the seven plant species showed potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in in vitro human peripheral blood cells (PBMCs) assay [178]. About 30 plant species growing in the WTWHA were reported as medicinal plants used for many years by indigenous communities to treat various diseases and ailments, including inflammation-related diseases [179]. Many metabolites identified through metabolomic studies (Table 2) were also studied for numerous biological properties (Table 2). Some major and bioactive metabolites were α-pinene, p-cymene, β-endemol, limonene, viridiflorene, E-β-farnesene, copaene, and β-caryophyllene (Table 2). Figure 5 shows some interesting structures of these isolated compounds. They showed a wide array of pharmacological activities, from anti-microbial to anti-cancer and anti-plasmodial properties. Of nine plant species listed in Table 2, four were tested for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, three each were tested for anti-microbial and antioxidant activities, two were tested for anti-allergic reactions, and the rest were tested for anti-diabetic, anti-malarial, and neuro-protective properties (one plant species each). For instance, galloyl-lawsoniaside A isolated from U. metrosideros leaf showed promising anti-inflammatory activity through significant suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) by phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin (P/I)-activated cells [132]. Moreover, it also significantly suppressed the release of IL-8 by the anti-CD3/anti-CD28-activated cells [132]. There are increasing studies on identifying anti-inflammatory molecules by targeting the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) pathway, as 5-LOX drives inflammation by producing inflammatory mediators, such as leukotrienes [180,181]. Osthol isolated from aerial parts of Leionema ellipticum showed selective inhibition of the 5-LOX pathway [143]. The anti-cancer/anti-tumour activity was mainly tested with crude extracts or essential oils by studying their inhibitory effect on tumour growth using tumour cell lines such as sarcoma 180 ascites tumour cells [125]. The anti-cancer activity was attributed to the major metabolite constituents, such as limonene, p-cymene, α-pinene, and viridiflorene (Table 2), and was not tested against the single compound. A few isolated compounds also exhibited anti-plasmodial activity. For example, pimentelamine C, isolated from the leaf of Flindersia pimentaliana, showed moderate anti-plasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 3.6 ± 0.7 (against chloroquine-sensitive strain) and 2.7 ± 0.3 (against chloroquine-resistant strains) [141].

7. Conclusions and Future Directions

The Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), which lies in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in FNQ, has rich and unique biodiversity, with over 700 endemic plant species. The current study identified that 84 plant species were affected by climate change, with some species already being endangered in their natural habitat. Recent studies of 37 of these species predicted a total loss of suitable habitat for five species by 2035 and seven species by 2085 if greenhouse gas emission (e.g., CO2) into the atmosphere continues at the current speed. Recently, many powerful technologies have been developed, including omics techniques, bioimaging, and biosensor tools, which have been widely applied to understanding plants’ physiology and metabolome and discovering novel metabolomic pathways in response to global climate change. However, our literature review revealed that these 84 Australian TMCF plants were scarcely studied for their biomolecules, and that we understand little about their medicinal uses, chemical profiles, and biological functions. Of 84 species, 43 belong to 29 medicinally important genera with various medical properties, and only 7 species were studied for their metabolite compositions. There is an urgent need for enhanced metabolomics studies of these least-studied plants, given that they are at risk of significant habitat loss because of climate change. Additionally, it is urgent to understand and identify potential traits in these least-studied plants, including possible genetic mutations that may have led to the change in the pattern of secondary metabolite accumulation and their metabolomic pathways in the adaptive response to climatic stress factors. Such studies will produce more data to holistically understand the interactive effect of climate change on the growth and fitness of these plants. This, in turn, would enable us to predict the adaptive response of plants specific to future climatic conditions and, thus, design the appropriate conservation measures to rescue those already identified as endangered and nearly threatened plant species.
Many metabolites reported from those plants that have already been studied have shown numerous pharmacological activities. Studies have also reported that plants produce defensive/protective secondary metabolites in response to climate change. Most of these defensive secondary metabolites are antioxidative/anti-inflammatory. Therefore, Australian TMCF plants also present an exciting avenue for discovering novel pharmaceutical leads.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, P.W. and K.Y.; writing—original draft preparation, N.G. and K.Y; writing—review and editing, P.W. and D.C.; supervision, P.W. and D.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was partially supported by the FNQH grant and the NHMRC Ideas grant (APP1183323) awarded to P.W and the Ian Potter Foundation grant awarded to D.C.

Data Availability Statement

Not Applicable.

Acknowledgments

Authors sincerely acknowledge the office of Wet Tropics Management Authority office, state of Queensland for generating and allowing us to use a map of the Wet Tropics bioregion depicting WTWHA in this study.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Map of Australia showing the State of Queensland and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) shaded in green. Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is restricted to the mountaintops of the WTWHA, typically in areas above 900 m above sea level. A map depicting WTWHA was generated from the Wet Tropics Plan zoning map Edition 3.0 with the help of the Wet Tropics Management Authority office, Queensland.
Figure 1. Map of Australia showing the State of Queensland and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA) shaded in green. Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) is restricted to the mountaintops of the WTWHA, typically in areas above 900 m above sea level. A map depicting WTWHA was generated from the Wet Tropics Plan zoning map Edition 3.0 with the help of the Wet Tropics Management Authority office, Queensland.
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Plants 13 01024 g005
Figure 5. Chemical structure of bioactive compounds isolated/identified from the climate-affected Australian montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants (also used medicinally) in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA), northeast Queensland.
Figure 5. Chemical structure of bioactive compounds isolated/identified from the climate-affected Australian montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants (also used medicinally) in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA), northeast Queensland.
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Table 2. List of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants studied for their phytochemical contents and bioactivity.
Table 2. List of climate-affected Australian tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) plants studied for their phytochemical contents and bioactivity.
Botanical NameMedicinal UsesNumber and Major Metabolites IdentifiedIsolated CompoundsChemical ClassBiological Activities of Compounds
Agathis atropurpureaAgathis species are traditionally used to treat myalgia and headaches [50].27 metabolites; major metabolites are α-pinene, α-copaene, bicyclogermacrene, δ-cadinene, phyllocladane, and 16-kaurene [111]NA TerpenoidAntimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancer activity (α-pinene) [112,113,114], antioxidant activity (α-copaene) [115]
Eucryphia wilkieiNU2 unknown metabolites [116]NA FlavonoidNA
Cinnamomum propinquumCinnamomum species are most commonly used in traditional Chinese medicines to treat multiple disorders, including indigestion, microbial infections, and cough and cold [57].40 metabolites; Major metabolites are p-cymene, α-pinene, and
β-eudesmol [117]		NATerpenoidAnti-cancer activity (p-cymene) [118], anti-allergic and anti-angiogenic effect (β-eudesmol) [119,120]
Cryptocarya bellendenkeranaNU39 metabolites; major metabolites are α-pinene, limonene, β-phellandrene, p-cymene, viridiflorene, E-β-farnesene, α-copaene, β-and α-selinene, δ-cadinene, bicyclogermacrene, calamenene, and cubeban-11-ol [121].NA Antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory (limonene) [122,123], anti-fungal (β-phellandrene) [124], antioxidant and antitumour properties (viridiflorene) [125,126], insect repellent (E-β-farnesene) [127] antioxidant activity (copaene) [115].
Leptospermum wooroonooranLeptospermum species are traditionally used in Malaysia to relieve menstrual and stomach disorders [60,61].45 metabolites; major metabolitesare α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol [128]NA Reduce skeletal muscle atrophy (sabinene) [129], antibacterial and antibiofilm activities (terpinene-4-ol) [130]
Uromyrtus metrosiderosNU27 metabolites; major metabolites are α-pinene, β-pinene, spathulenol and aromadendrene [131]norbergenin, bergenin, (6S,9R)-roseoside,
(4S)-α-terpineol 8-O-β-D-(6-O-galloyl) glucopyranoside, galloyl-lawsoniaside A, and
uromyrtoside [132] 		Benzopyran,
Glucoside,		Anti-inflammatory (galloyl-lawsoniaside A) [132]; reduced hypertension and allergic reaction (roseoside) [133,134]
Prumnopitys ladeiFruits and bark of Prunmnopitys species are considered medicinal [68].44-metabolites; major compounds are α-pinene, limonene, verbenone, and p-cymene.
β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, and α-humulene [135]		NA Antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and local anesthetic effects (β-caryophyllene) [136,137,138]
Flindersia oppositifoliaNU37 metabolites; major compounds are β-caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene [139]; Identified 8 alkaloids from leaf [140].pimentelamine A, pimentelamine B, pimentelamine C, 2-isoprenyl-N-N-dimethyltryptamine, 4-methylborreverine, borreverine, dimethylisoborreverine, quercitrin, and carpachromene [139]; harmalan, pimentelamine B, isoborreverine, skimmianine, kokusaginine, maculosidine, flindersiamine, 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine [140]. Terpene, AlkaloidAntiplasmodial (pimentelamine C) [141,142]
Leionema ellipticumNU 3,4′,5-trimethoxyflavone-7-O-α-rhamnoside,
boropinol-B, and
osthol [143]		FlavonoidNeuroprotective (boropinol-B) [144,145]; anti-inflammatory (osthol) [143,146]
Chemical class for isolated chemicals were referred from human metabolome database (https://hmdb.ca) (accessed on 10 January 2024); Abbreviations—NA: Not available; NU: Not used medicinally.
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Gempo, N.; Yeshi, K.; Crayn, D.; Wangchuk, P. Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities. Plants 2024, 13, 1024. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071024

AMA Style

Gempo N, Yeshi K, Crayn D, Wangchuk P. Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities. Plants. 2024; 13(7):1024. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071024

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gempo, Ngawang, Karma Yeshi, Darren Crayn, and Phurpa Wangchuk. 2024. "Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities" Plants 13, no. 7: 1024. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071024

APA Style

Gempo, N., Yeshi, K., Crayn, D., & Wangchuk, P. (2024). Climate-Affected Australian Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Plants: Metabolomic Profiles, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Bioactivities. Plants, 13(7), 1024. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071024

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