ITS1 and ITS2 sequences analysis of seven medicinal plants in Polygala L / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To provide the evidence for the molecular identification of seven medicinal plants in Polygala L. Methods: Sequencing of ITS1 and ITS2 genes from Polygala furcata, P. japonica, P. tenuifolia, P. glomerata, P. persicariifolia, P. sibirica, and P. arvensis was performed. Sequence features were compared and analyzed using ClustalX and MEGA 3.1 softwares. Results: In the seven medicinal plants of Polygala L., the length of ITS1 and ITS2 varied in 279-291 bp and 211-219 bp separately, with 232 variable sites and 53 parsimony information sites. The smallest genetic distance was observed between P. tenuifolia and P. sibirica, and the largest existed between P. furcata and P. glomerata revealing their farest genetic relationship. Conclusion: ITS sequences of the seven medicinal plants in Polygala L. can be used as the reference for the molecular identification.