Identification of Medicinal Mangrove Rhizophora apiculata Blume: Morphological, Chemical and DNA Barcoding Methods

"Kandal" (Rhizophora apiculata Blume) is a medicinal mangrove plant used to treat pain, inflammation and reduce blood glucose level in Southeast coast of India. Identification and revision of R. apiculata are largely based on morphological characteristics. Previously, we reported and filed a patent on anti-diabetic Glycosin from R. apiculata. Subsequently, for the quality and market authorization, comprehensible identification and authentication of plant material is needed to avoid misidentify of the species by nontaxonomist. In the light of successful DNA barcoding in many medicinal plants, this study explored the potential of DNA barcoding to complement classical methods of identification of R. apiculata. Specimens were examined by morphological, HPTLC, and DNA fingerprinting. The molecular markers rbc L and mat K regions clearly distinguished R. apiculata from Rhizophoraceae family. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis confirmed their taxonomic position within the tribe Rhizophoraceae. The study indicates that DNA barcoding provides an effective and accurate strategy for increasing the reliability of species identification. The barcode sequence also was deposited in NCBI and BOLD systems. This is the first scientific information on morphology, chemical and DNA fingerprinting of medicinal mangrove R. apiculata for pharmacophore application.