DNA barcoding is a desirable tool for medicinal product authentication. DNA barcoding is a method for species identification using short DNA sequences that are conserved within species, but variable between species. Unlike animals, there is no single universal DNA barcode locus for plants. Coding markers, matK and rbcL, and noncoding markers, trnH-psbA (chloroplast) and ITS2 (nuclear), have bee...

This study examined the potential utility of DNA sequence analysis to discriminate and identify plant material in forensic investigations. DNA was extracted from plant leaf fragments of 11 species stored for 5 to 22 years after collection. The trnH-psbA intergenic spacer and 316 bp of the rbcL gene were successfully amplified and sequenced for all fragments except for the trnH-psbA spacer of on...

The intrachloroplastic localization of post-transcriptional gene expression steps represents one key determinant for the regulation of chloroplast development. We have characterized an RNA binding protein of 63 kDa (RBP63) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts, which cofractionates with stromal thylakoid membranes. Solubility properties suggest that RBP63 is a peripheral membrane protein....

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) is a large angiosperm family that includes many medicinally important species. The ability to identify these species and their adulterants is important, yet difficult to do so because of their subtle fruit morphological differences and often lack of diagnostic features in preserved specimens. Moreover, dried roots are often the official medical organs, making visual iden...

Stelechocarpus merupakan salah satu genus anggota famili Annonaceae yang tumbuh di kawasan Asia-Pasifik. Sebagai tumbuhan kurang dikenal oleh masyarakat maka perlu adanya upaya konservasi karena jenis mempunyai banyak manfaat bidang farmasi dan kosmetika. Salah strategi mendukung yaitu dengan DNA barcoding masih sedikit informasinya untuk Stelechocarpus. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi lo...

The chloroplast genome of most land plants is highly conserved. In contrast, physical and gene mapping studies have revealed a highly rearranged chloroplast genome in species representing four families of ferns. In all four, there has been a rare duplication of the psbA gene and the order of the psbA, 16S, and 23S rRNA genes has been inverted. Our analysis shows that the described rearrangement...

August 2006 | Volume 4 | Issue 8 | e264 Among the wealth of microbial organisms inhabiting marine environments, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are the most abundant photosynthetic cells. Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, the two most common cyanobacteria, account for 30% of global carbon fi xation (through the photosynthetic process in which sugars are manufactured from carbon dioxide and wa...

The genus Fritillaria comprises of 165 taxa of medicinal, ornamental and horticultural importance. Evolutionary relationships in this genus is an interesting research area, attracting many researchers. In this study, phylogenetic relationships among 18 native to endemic species in Iran belonging to four subgenera Petilium, Theresia, Rhinopetalum and Fritillaria, are assessed using chloroplast t...

Stemona sessilifolia, S. japonica and S. tuberosa are the three original sources of Stemonae Radix specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (CP), and have been traditionally used for antitussive and insecticidal remedy. Significant variations in alkaloids composition and content, as well as different degrees of antitussive activities were found among them. In order to identify the genuine sources...