Development and validation of molecular markers for characterization of <it>Boehmeria nivea </it>var. <it>nivea </it>and <it>Boehmeria nivea </it>var. <it>tenacissima</it>

• Main Authors: Lee Cheng-Yu (Author), Tong Teng-Soung (Author), Chiou Shu-Jiau (Author), Li Chuan-I (Author), Lee Lain-Tze (Author), Cheng Ching-Ming (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2010-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1749-8546-5-40; 1749-8546
• Keywords: Other systems of medicine; RZ201-999
• Source: Chinese Medicine, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 40 (2010)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The root of <it>Boehmeria </it>spp (ramie) is a hepatoprotective Chinese herbal medicine. Medicinal properties vary between <it>Boehmeria nivea </it>var. <it>nivea </it>and <it>Boehmeria nivea </it>var. <it>tenacissima</it>, which are local species found in Taiwan. As commercial preparations may use either species, there is a need for a rapid and simple assay to identify variants for quality control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four methods were developed and tested for their applicability in differentiating the two species. These methods were random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD); sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR); single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three RAPD markers were developed that produced unique bands in <it>B. nivea </it>var. <it>tenacissima </it>and <it>B. nivea </it>var. <it>nivea</it>. Based on sequenced RAPD bands, one SCAR marker was developed that produced a single DNA band in <it>B. nivea </it>var. <it>nivea</it>. Two SNP markers differentiated between <it>B. nivea </it>var. <it>nivea </it>and <it>B. nivea </it>var. <it>tenacissima </it>based on single nucleotide substitutions. A pair of CAPS oligonucleotides was developed by amplifying a 0.55-kb DNA fragment that exhibited species-specific digestion patterns with restriction enzymes <it>Alf </it>III and <it>Nde </it>I. Consistent results were obtained with all the four markers on all tested <it>Boehmeria </it>lines.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study demonstrates the use of the RAPD, SCAR, SNP and CAPS markers for rapid identification of two closely related <it>Boehmeria </it>species.</p>