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Examples ofmedicinal herbs bought at Faraday muthi market in Johannesburg A different medicinal herbs in bags B Seeds of Entada rheedii (tindili) C mixed herbs (fembo) D A twig of Adenia gummifera (mphinde umshaye) E Barks of Vachellia sp. (umkhanya-kute) F Bulb of Boophane disticha (umqotho) G mixed herbs H Myrothamnus flabellifolius (vuka) I Barks of Vachellia sp. (umkhanya-kute) J Sarcostemma viminale (ube nam) K Plant of Clivia sp. (mayime) L Stangeria eriopus (imfingo) M mixed herbs (isihlalakahle) N Tuber (umbonsi) O Helichrysum sp. (impepo) and P Twigs of Synadenium cupulare (umdletshane). Names in brackets are vernacular names in isiZulu.
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Medicinal plants cover a broad range of taxa, which may be phylogenetically less related but morphologically very similar. Such morphological similarity between species may lead to misidentification and inappropriate use. Also the substitution of a medicinal plant by a cheaper alternative (e.g. other non-medicinal plant species), either due to misi...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... reach this objective, the primary step requires a reliable tool for accurate plant identification. Traditional plant identification is based on morphological characteris- tics, which can be problematic especially for medicinal plants that are mainly traded as dried or processed barks, dried leaves, roots, and stems (Figure 1) in popular markets known in South Africa as muthi market. As such, traded medicinal plants are devoid of identification diagnostics making morphologically-based identification non applicable (Dold and Cocks 2002). ...Context 2
... muthi market is a popular market where trade and services in African traditional medicines are provided to the general public. Materials sold in this market include various plant parts such as dried or fresh leaves, seeds, barks, and roots, etc. (Figure 1). These mate- rials are sometimes in poorly stored and/or processed states (e.g. ...Context 3
... instance, Williams et al. (2000) mentioned Helichrysum sp. as being scarce and threat- ened in the future because of its popularity and demand at the muthi markets. The harvesting of the whole plant, bulb, tuber or roots before the seeds germinate damages the plant more than harvesting only leaves, seeds, bark or fruits (as seen in Figure 1). Although only about 22% of the muthi samples are currently threatened with extinc- tion (Table 3), continual over-exploitation in the wild might eventually change the status for currently non-threatened species to threatened category. ...Similar publications
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Background:
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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-...
Citations
... A perfect DNA barcode should have enough conserved segments to design a universal primer, high variability to be used for species discrimination and the ability to differentiate among the closely related species. This is possible if a species has a very large genetic distance from the other intraspecific members of the group(hebert et al. 2004;Mankga et al. 2013 , Cahyaningsih et al 2022. ...
Polygonum is an important genus of Polygonaceae and Polygonum posumbu is underutilized traditional medicinal plant whose leaves are extensively used as an antipyretic and dyspepsia agent in Manipur, India as well as a spice in India, Japan, Nepal, China, South Korea, Philippines and Thailand. P. posumbu is commonly known as Phak-pai in Manipur. DNA barcode based molecular characterization technology for species identification has been recognized as a reliable tool for plants but the selection of suitable universal marker is still under discussion. The main aim of the study is to identify the Polygonum posumbu sample from Manipur, India using DNA barcode method. In the present study, Polygonum posumbu samples were collected from a local farmer in Awang khunou, Imphal West, Manipur, India which was taxonomically identified. To assess the molecular species identification, Internal Transcribed spacer (ITS) marker system was employed and the primer’s pair used were covered the internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 2 complete sequence. Phylogenetic tree was constructed for the studied sample with the sequences of the 9 species retrieved from the GenBank in order to show the relationships among the samples. The result shows that the ITS marker-based DNA identification method successfully characterized the Polygonum posumbu species. The information of ITS marker-based identification of Polygonum posumbu from Manipur, India, will enhance our knowledge in better understanding the medicinal properties of this plant.
... The use of incorrect species in herbal medicines could result in an ineffective medicine or even adverse effects. Such instances have occurred where substitution, misidentification, and contamination have resulted in severe side effects and had the potential to cause fatalities [9]. Consequently, it is key that the environmental impact of using medicinal plants is reduced and that the safety and quality of medicinal material is maintained. ...
Medicinal plants are a globally important resource for the treatment of disease and improvement of human health, and the only form of healthcare used by millions of people. Currently, the status of many medicinal species is threatened by overharvesting caused by increasing demand. While many species have been cultivated in soil, the resulting material often contains lower levels of medicinal compounds than that of wild-harvested plants. Hydroponic cultivation of medicinal plants may provide sustainable access, with research demonstrating increased secondary metabolite content in some species compared to both wild and soil-grown plants. There are a variety of hydroponic systems and techniques available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. As medicinal compounds are often localised within specific plant organs, selecting hydroponic systems that maximise the yield of the desired organs and metabolites is necessary. However, as of yet there has been no attempt to examine the literature with regards to the cultivation of specific plant organs of medicinal plants in hydroponics. This article explores the use of different hydroponic systems to cultivate medicinal plants and how the choice of system differs depending on the desired plant organ, as well as highlighting studies with novel outcomes that may provide value to the field.
... The data for Erythrina spp. is mainly related to DNA barcoding in phylogeny studies (De Luca et al., 2018), such as the relations among phaseoloid legumes -based on nucleotide sequences from chloroplast regions (cpDNA) (Pfeil et al., 2009), and the efficacy of the core DNA barcodes in identifying processed and poorly conserved plant materials commonly used in South African traditional medicine (Mankga et al., 2013). ...
Plants have several biotechnological uses, such as for pharmaceuticals, food, fuel, insecticides, and as a source of gene sequences for genetic engineering. This study aimed to identify the biotechnological potential of Erythrina velutina Willd. a plant widely used in traditional medicine. Analyses were based on the prospecting of scientific data in recognized databases of scientific publications, patents, nucleotide sequences and products. The medicinal properties of the phytocomposites extracted from Erythrina spp. and E. velutina were evident in several studies, although the efficiency and safety of using these chemical compounds are still being tested. Potential for other chemical uses, such as for antibacterial and bioinsecticide functions, has also been reported. In the analysis of the molecular information, barcodes for phylogenetic studies are mentioned and in patents, Erythrina spp. plants are a source of polynucleotides and polypeptides. The number of patents and sequenced nucleotides for E. velutina is low (12 and 6, respectively). However, the scientific data establish that this species is prominent with high biotechnological potential.
... There are several alarming situations of misidentification in the world. Supporting traditional plant identification is an urgent matter to secure human health (Mankga et al., 2013). DNA barcoding should be applied parallel to the morphological classification of plants for the identification of species and genetic relationships for the appropriate conservation of plants. ...
The Boraginaceae family comprises around 2000 species within 145 genera with various therapeutic and pharmacological attributes. DNA banking can be considered a complementary method for preserving plant species by preserving genomic DNA at lower temperatures. This approach to maintaining biological information allows researchers to search for new genes and their products. Therefore, in this review, we describe and analyse the DNA barcoding of the family Boraginaceae to conserve and further manipulate this rare and endangered plant species to enhance its yield and quality characteristics. The non-coding DNA regions (such as ITS and rbcL) are presumed to be more useful at lower taxonomic levels because of their faster evolutionary rates. The present study aims to inspect whether these plants can be categorized into different species or not, and DNA barcoding is used to clarify the dispute. The DNA barcode marker used ITS and rbcL, and sequence analysis was performed using the online tool BLAST of the NCBI database and based on maximum identity and dendrogram.
... The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 65-80% of subjects from developing countries use to take medicinal plants widely (Robinson and Zhang, 2011). Studies demonstrating efficacy and safety of medicinal plants have been carried out worldwide, covering a range of socioeconomic development stages (Aslanargun et al., 2012;Coghlan et al., 2012;De Luca et al., 2012;Mankga et al., 2013). ...
Background
: Equisetum arvense L. (EA) is a traditional phytomedicine used as a diuretic agent worldwide and regulated strictly by European Medicine Agency (EMA) and Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). However, few studies evaluating its efficacy and safety have been published and no clinical trial assessing its antihypertensive effect has been reported to date.
Purpose
: To assess antihypertensive effect, safety and tolerability of EA compared to hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
Methods
: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial, allocating 58 systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) stage I patients (both sexes, 25-65 years old) into two groups (EA and HCTZ). All patients underwent biochemical and cardiologic checkup prior to and during interventions. The EA standardized dry extract (900 mg/day) or HCTZ (25 mg/day) were administered for 3 months and follow-up visits were conducted every 30 days. Efficacy established goals were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreases ≥ 10.0 mmHg and/or casual blood pressure (CBP) < 140/90 mmHg.
Results
: EA treatment demonstrated a significant antihypertensive effect, promoting a mean decrease of SBP and DBP by 12.6 and 8.1 mmHg, respectively, and resulting a CBP mean of 134.0/84.5 mmHg at the end of intervention on the SAH stage I patients (CBP mean of 148.5/95.7 mmHg). There were no significant statistical differences between EA and HCTZ interventions on blood pressure decrease, and before-after treatments regarding to biochemical tests and signs of acute toxicity, renal, hepatic and hematologic alterations. A slight trend but no significant difference were observed between adverse events from EA (3.58%) and HCTZ (4.68%) groups.
Conclusion
: EA standardized dry extract was successfully applied to the SAH stage I patient treatment, decreasing effectively SBP ad DBP values to the reference normal ranges, and demonstrating a well-tolerability profile similar to HCTZ intervention.
... For instance, in the Asteraceae (daisy) familyfamous for its high rates of hybridisation and with up to 33,000 species the largest plant family in the world -intrafamilial relationships could not be resolved even with the use of 10 chloroplast markers 9 . 10,11 Low-copy nuclear (LCN) genes are promising alternatives for plant clades in which traditional DNA barcodes cannot be successfully applied. The higher rate of molecular evolution compared to organellar genomes, combined with low levels of paralogy, make LCN genes ideal candidates for improved phylogenetics 6 , as well as accurate molecular identi cation 12,13 . ...
... Traditional DNA barcoding techniques using organellar markers have had limited success 11,36,41 with only 30% of Aloe specimens correctly identi ed using the ITS1 region 10 . Obtaining LCN genes would be a signi cant step forward but has so far been hindered by the large and complex genomes of Aloe species: 1C-values range from 8.10-35.95 ...
Plant molecular identification studies have, until recently, been limited to the use of highly conserved markers from plastid and other organellar genomes, compromising resolution in highly diverse plant clades. Due to their higher evolutionary rates and reduced paralogy, low-copy nuclear genes overcome this limitation but are difficult to sequence with conventional methods and require high-quality input DNA. Aloe vera and its relatives (Asphodelaceae, subfamily Alooideae) are of economic interest for food and health products and have horticultural value. However, pressing conservation issues are increasing the need for a molecular identification tool to regulate the trade. With >600 species and an origin of ±15 million years ago, this predominantly African succulent plant clade is a diverse and taxonomically complex group for which low-copy nuclear genes would be desirable for accurate species discrimination. Unfortunately, with an average genome size of 16.76 pg, obtaining high coverage sequencing data for these genes would be prohibitively costly and computationally demanding. We used newly generated transcriptome data to design a customised RNA-bait panel targeting 189 low-copy nuclear genes in Alooideae. We demonstrate its efficacy in obtaining high-coverage sequence data for the target loci on Illumina sequencing platforms, including degraded DNA samples from museum specimens, with considerably improved phylogenetic resolution. This customised target capture sequencing protocol has the potential to confidently indicate phylogenetic relationships of Aloe vera and related species, as well as aid molecular identification applications.
... quality DNA concentration that could allow PCR amplification to take place. Depending on which vegetative part of the plant; its time of collection, storage condition, and extraction of sufficient DNA template for comparison, and accurate species identification, the whole process is undeniably challenging (Mankga et al., 2013). This arduous feat may impede trade controls and conservation efforts made on wild medicinal plant resources that warrant technique optimization in quality DNA isolation. ...
The processed root of Wikstroemia indica, also known as Wikstroemiae Radix (WR), is known as a time-honored traditional herbal medicine demonstrating health-promoting properties. Although W. indica is valuable, its molecular information on this medicinal plant is limited. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of W. indica and its congener, W. nutans, the latter of which is highly identical to W. indica in both their natural distributions and morphological characteristics. The cp genomes of W. indica and W. nutans were 151,746 bp and 149,776 bp in size, respectively, and were predicted to contain the same number of genes, including 78 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. Genome comparison of W. indica showed that mutational hotspots were present despite low intraspecific variations were detected between two different accessions. Although phylogenetic analyses revealed that the two closely-related species of Wikstroemia were sisters, presence of variations in the sequence and mutational hotspots demarcated these two species apart. To authenticate commercial WR products sold in the market, three sets of novel indel markers and two sets of novel DNA barcoding markers from the cp genome sequences were developed. However, only the indel marker ndhK-trnV and the DNA barcoding marker, ccsA-psaC were proven useful in discriminating W. indica from W. nutans; while the former is even capable to delimit W. indica from adulterants of other related species. The findings of this study are useful for the molecular development of W. indica and also contribute to the effort in species authentication, trade monitoring and drug regulation in the local herbal industry.
... There are several alarming situations of misidenti cation in world. Supporting traditional plant identi cation is an urgent matter to secure human health [31,32]. Given herbal medicines usually are poorly conserved or processed materials, the chance is very low to extract and amplify the long DNA fragments (> 200 bp) successfuliy [32][33][34]. ...
... Supporting traditional plant identi cation is an urgent matter to secure human health [31,32]. Given herbal medicines usually are poorly conserved or processed materials, the chance is very low to extract and amplify the long DNA fragments (> 200 bp) successfuliy [32][33][34]. The rapid development of DNA barcoding has been proved that it were extremely powerful tool to differentiate closely related species of herbal medicines [35][36][37][38]. ...
... The rapid development of DNA barcoding has been proved that it were extremely powerful tool to differentiate closely related species of herbal medicines [35][36][37][38]. Wang et al. [32] compared seven candidate DNA barcodes (psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, rpoC1, ycf5, ITS2, and ITS) from medicinal plant species, and the result suggested that the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA represents the most suitable region for DNA barcoding applications. Chen et al. [31] tested the discrimination ability of ITS2 in more than 6600 plant samples belonging to a broad range of taxa and found that the rate of successful identi cation with the ITS2 was 92.7% at the species level. ...
Background: It’s a long history for the use of herbal medicines to derive remedies in Chinese, and the popularity of herbal medicines has risen worldwide. It is necessary to assure the safety, efficacy and quality of herbal medicines by the corrected identification. Inner Mongolia Arnebia Radix is an important and historied used herbal medicine in Inner Mongolia.
Methods: The methods of morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding was used to identify the plant origin of Inner Mongolia Arnebia Radix.
Results: The identification results of morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding showed that the original plant of Inner Mongolia Arnebia Radix was Arnebia szechenyi, which was distinguished with Arnebia guttata, the official original plant of Inner Mongolia Arnebia Radix.
Conclusions: We inferred that that the original plant of Inner Mongolia Arnebia Radix was Arnebia szechenyi.
... Furthermore, the intraspecific distance was low compared to interspecific genetic distance. As per Hebert et al. (2004) and Mankga et al. (2013) a perfect barcode of DNA should possess significant variations to be used for species delineation and this can be achieved if a species has high genetic distance than the other intraspecific individual within the group. ...
Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don belonging to the family Liliaceae and is one of the important bulbous medicinal herbs from the Western Himalayan Region distributed between 2800 and 4000 m asl. It is a perennial herb having an underground bulb which is the main constituents of various Ayurvedic preparations. Due to natural habitat specificity and indiscriminate extraction due to high market demand, this plant is facing a survival threat in the wild. The problem of misidentification, adulteration, and substitution of this plant with other cheaper plants is widespread. The present study was conducted to study morphological, anatomical, and palynological characters of F. cirrhosa and to develop its DNA barcodes for its molecular authentication. The morphological characters of different plant organs such as bulb, root, stem, and leaf were studied. Transverse sections of bulb, root, stem, and leaf were examined in detail. Pollen grains were prolate shaped and monosulcate with the reticulate type of exine sculpturing. Genomic DNAs were extracted from the dried bulbs samples and high-quality marker sequences were obtained for one nuclear viz. ITS and one cytoplasmic molecular markers viz., rbcL of F. cirrhosa. The length of the ITS sequence of the three accessions ranged from 621 to 699 bp, while a sequence length range of 570 to 573bp was recorded for rbcL. The percentage GC content was 65.74, and 42.22 for ITS, and rbcL markers respectively.
... According to Mankga et. al., (2013) research work "Efficacy of the core DNA barcodes in identifying processed and poorly conserved plant materials commonly used in South African traditional medicine", DNA barcoding was used to identify commonly used medicinal plants in South Africa. South Africa is a country with rich tropical and temperate flora, of about 24, 000 species ...