Molecular fingerprinting of the Indian medicinal plant Strychnos minor Dennst

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Genetic variability of Strychnos minor through Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

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The similarity of the primers showed the range from 0.654 to 0.986.

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Polymorphic information content (PIC) shown maximum for the primer of OPB-04 (0.40) and primer of OPB-20 (0.39).

Genomic DNA of Strychnos minor (Dennst) of sixteen geographical regions were amplified using thirteen primers. The analyses of products of Radom Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed polymorphism among the samples. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was maximum for the primer of OPB-04 (0.40) followed by the primer OPB-20 (0.39). Clustering analysis by Jaccard’s coefficient index exhibited similarity matrix and distance matrix. The amplified products of the 13 primers collectively showed similarity index ranged from 0.654 to 0.986. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by UPGMA cluster analysis. Significant variations in the amplified genomic DNA suggest genetic variability of population but low inter-population genetic segregation.

Molecular fingerprinting of Helicanthus elastica (Desr.) Danser growing on five different hosts by RAPD

Mistletoes are hemiparasitic plants growing on aerial parts of other host trees. Many of the mistletoes are reported to be medicinally important. The hemiparasitic nature of these plants makes their chemical composition dependent on the host on which it grows. They are shown to exhibit morphological dissimilarities also when growing on different hosts. Helicanthus elastica (Desr.) Danser (mango mistletoe) is one such less explored medicinal mistletoe found on almost every mango tree in India. Traditionally, the leaves of this plant are used for checking abortion and for removing stones in the kidney and urinary bladder while significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are also attributed to this species of mistletoe. The current study was undertaken to evaluate molecular differences in the genomic DNA of the plant while growing on five different host trees using four random markers employing random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) followed by similarity matrix by Jaccard’s coefficient and distance matrix by hierarchal clustering analysis. Similarity and distance matrix data employing just 4 random markers, separately and the pooled data as well, revealed significant difference in the genomic DNA of H. elastica growing on five different hosts. Pooled data of similarity from all the 4 primers cumulatively showed similarity between 0.256 and 0.311. Distance matrix ranged from of 0.256 to 0.281 on pooling the data from all the four primers. The result employing a minimum number of primers could conclude that genomic DNA of H. elastica differs depending upon the host on which it grows, hence the host must be considered while studying or utilizing this mistletoe for medicinal purposes.

Differentiation of Candida parapsilosis, C. orthopsilosis, and C. metapsilosis by specific PCR amplification of the RPS0 intron

Although Candida parapsilosis is the most prevalent among the 3 species of the *psilosis group, studies applying DNA-based diagnostic techniques with isolates previously identified as C. parapsilosis have revealed that both C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis account for 0-10% of all these isolates, depending on the geographical area. Differences in the degrees of antifungal susceptibility and virulence have been found, so a more precise identification is required. In a first approach, we reidentified 38 randomly chosen clinical isolates, previously identified as C. parapsilosis, using the RPO2 (CA2) RAPD marker. Among them, we reclassified 4 as C. metapsilosis and 5 as C. orthopsilosis. We previously developed a method to identify different pathogen yeast species, including C. parapsilosis, based on the amplification of the RPS0 gene intron. In this work, we extend this approach to the new *psilosis species by partially sequencing their RPS0 gene, including the intron sequence. Based on intron sequences, we designed specific primers capable of identifying C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis species, and we reidentified species among the initial isolates. These new primers have allowed a specific and rapid identification of C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis.

Application of RAPD for molecular characterization of plant species of medicinal value from an arid environment

The use of highly discriminatory methods for the identification and characterization of genotypes is essential for plant protection and appropriate use. We utilized the RAPD method for the genetic fingerprinting of 11 plant species of desert origin (seven with known medicinal value). Andrachne telephioides, Zilla spinosa, Caylusea hexagyna, Achillea fragrantissima, Lycium shawii, Moricandia sinaica, Rumex vesicarius, Bassia eriophora, Zygophyllum propinquum subsp migahidii, Withania somnifera, and Sonchus oleraceus were collected from various areas of Saudi Arabia. The five primers used were able to amplify the DNA from all the plant species. The amplified products of the RAPD profiles ranged from 307 to 1772 bp. A total of 164 bands were observed for 11 plant species, using five primers. The number of well-defined and major bands for a single plant species for a single primer ranged from 1 to 10. The highest pair-wise similarities (0.32) were observed between A. fragrantissima and L. shawii, when five primers were combined. The lowest similarities (0) were observed between A. telephioides and Z. spinosa; Z. spinosa and B. eriophora; B. eriophora and Z. propinquum. In conclusion, the RAPD method successfully discriminates among all the plant species, therefore providing an easy and rapid tool for identification, conservation and sustainable use of these plants.