A 2012 phylogenetic study built a family tree down to genus "Genus (biology)") level using 20,000 species to compare the medicinal plants of three regions, Nepal, New Zealand and the Cape of South Africa.
A 2012 phylogenetic study built a family tree down to genus "Genus (biology)") level using 20,000 species to compare the medicinal plants of three regions, Nepal, New Zealand and the Cape of South Africa. It discovered that the species used traditionally to treat the same types of condition belonged to the same groups of plants in all three regions, giving a "strong phylogenetic signal".[103] Since many plants that yield pharmaceutical drugs belong to just these groups, and the groups were independently used in three different world regions, the results were taken to mean 1) that these plant groups do have potential for medicinal efficacy, 2) that undefined pharmacological activity is associated with use in traditional medicine, and 3) that the use of a phylogenetic groups for possible plant medicines in one region may predict their use in the other regions.[103]