RESUMO
Some plants have toxicities that are dangerous for humans. In the case of poisoning by toxic plants, a rapid and easy screening test is required for accurate medical treatment or forensic investigation. In this study, we designed specific primer pairs for identification of toxic plants, such as subgenus Aconitum, genus Ricinus, genus Illicium, and genus Scopolia, by internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Allied species of target plants, foods, and human DNA were not detected, but each primer pair provided a specific PCR product from the target plant using real-time PCR. This method can detect the subgenus Aconitum, genus Ricinus, and genus Scopolia with template DNA of 10 pg, respectively, and genus Illicium with 1 pg. Furthermore, each primer pair provided the exact PCR product from digested target plants in artificial gastric fluid. When a trace unknown plant sample in forensic investigation is collected from stomach contents, this PCR assay may be useful for screening toxic plants.
Assuntos
DNA de Plantas/análise , Plantas Tóxicas/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Aconitum/classificação , Aconitum/genética , Aconitum/toxicidade , Primers do DNA , DNA de Plantas/genética , DNA Espaçador Ribossômico/genética , Humanos , Illicium/classificação , Illicium/genética , Illicium/toxicidade , Plantas Tóxicas/classificação , Plantas Tóxicas/toxicidade , RNA Nuclear/análise , Ricinus/classificação , Ricinus/genética , Ricinus/toxicidade , Scopolia/classificação , Scopolia/genética , Scopolia/toxicidadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The perception and use of plants correspond with common plant names. The study of plant names may give insight into historical and recent use of plants. METHODS: Plant names in dictionaries and folklore have been evaluated. A etymological analysis of the names is provided. Onomasiological and semasiological aspects have been considered. Therefore, species named with names related to each other have been selected. RESULTS: Plant names containing the stem dag- or deg- may belong to either of two categories: incenses or thorny plants. Plants named in durn- have been in use as psychopharmaca. The name rymo points not to Rome but to the use of plants as anodyne or psychopharmaca.
