Phylogenetics, Ethnobotany, and Data-Driven Approaches for Medicinal Plant Species Prioritisation

A substantial proportion of modern pharmacological agents has been derived, directly or indirectly, from botanical sources, highlighting the continued importance of plant-based compounds in drug discovery. Despite significant advances in synthetic chemistry, approximately 80% of populations in developing countries still rely on traditional herbal medicines for primary healthcare, reflecting both their accessibility and cultural relevance. At the same time, the global medicinal plant market is rapidly expanding, likely driven by growing scientific and commercial interest in plant-derived bioactive compounds. However, the vast majority of plant diversity remains underexplored. Only a small fraction of species with potential therapeutic value has undergone rigorous biological evaluation, leaving a considerable — albeit partially biochemically overlapping — reservoir of untapped resources. In this context, the identification of promising candidate species remains a key bottleneck in bioprospecting efforts, including in relation to compliance with access and benefit-sharing regulations. Careful prioritization at early stages is therefore essential, as it narrows the pool of species to be investigated, optimizes the use of time and financial resources, and ultimately increases the likelihood of discovering novel bioactive compounds.Historically, plant selection has often relied on random or opportunistic approaches, which are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and associated with low success rates. In contrast, modern medicinal plant bioprospecting draws on a range of tools from multiple disciplines, including phylogenetics, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, genomics, ecology, and artificial intelligence. The application — and, increasingly, the integration — of these approaches represents a paradigm shift, enabling researchers to move beyond the limitations of traditional strategies, refine the selection of candidate species with greater precision, and simultaneously mitigate the impact of bioprospecting activities on biodiversity. This Research Topic aims to bring together studies that leverage modern approaches to identify and prioritize new candidate species for medicinal plant bioprospecting. We welcome submissions encompassing both original research and methodological contributions that develop novel tools or theoretical frameworks. Studies focusing on specific plant groups, as well as those adopting broader perspectives, are equally encouraged. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of multiple approaches and on the preliminary assessment of selected target species, including through experimental validation and/or simulation-based analyses. Purely compilative review articles will not be considered. Reviews that critically reassess existing methods or findings — through the reanalysis of published data or the application of simulation approaches — are welcome, provided they offer substantive new insights into the field. The use of fully valid taxonomic names (binomials) is required in all submissions. For submissions to Ethnopharmacology, please see the below guidance: All submissions must follow the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology and the ConPhyMP statement (Front. Pharmacol., 13:953205). Please self assess your MS using Best-practice guidance: https://ga-online.org/best-practice. Detailed descriptions of plant material, extraction, and processing are essential; manuscripts lacking this information will be desk-rejected. Authors are encouraged to self-assess their manuscripts using the ConPhyMP tool before submission. Purely computational or network-only studies, without ethnobotanical or experimental components, fall outside the journal’s scope. Topic editors: Giovanni Zecca, Guowei Zheng, Thalisson Amorim de Souza, Sumpam Tangjang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84973/phylogenetics-ethnobotany-and-data-driven-approaches-for-medicinal-plant-species-prioritisation