AI unlocks potential medicinal properties in plants

April 27, 2024 / 5:43 PM

Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the search for medicinal properties within plants, as researchers delve into a comprehensive family tree of flowering plants. This innovative approach aims to predict which undiscovered plant species may harbour promising compounds for new medicines, offering potential solutions for a variety of challenges, including climate change, conservation, and food security.

At London's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, scientists have sequenced the DNA of over 9,500 flowering plants, including 800 species previously unexplored. This vast dataset, containing 1.8 billion letters of genetic code, forms the basis of a detailed map tracing the evolutionary history of plants.

Melanie-Jayne Howes, a senior research leader, highlights the significance of understanding plant relationships in identifying common traits and properties essential for survival. By leveraging AI algorithms to analyze genetic sequences alongside known medicinal properties, researchers can pinpoint uncharted plant species with potential medicinal value.

Beyond medicinal discovery, this wealth of genetic data aids in species identification, taxonomy refinement, and conservation efforts. The team has made the dataset accessible to facilitate further exploration and discoveries within the plant kingdom.