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Planta Med 2009; 75(11): 1271-1276
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185535
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Identification of Verbena officinalis Based on ITS Sequence Analysis and RAPD-Derived Molecular Markers

Joana Ruzicka1 , Brigitte Lukas1 , Lina Merza1 , Irina Göhler2 , Gudrun Abel2 , Michael Popp2 , Johannes Novak1
  • 1Institute of Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Wien, Austria
  • 2Bionorica AG, Neumarkt, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received January 23, 2008 revised February 23, 2009

accepted March 3, 2009

Publication Date:
06 April 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Verbenae herba is a widely used drug and consists of the aerial parts of Verbena officinalis (Verbenaceae). Until now, the identification has been performed based on morphological and phytochemical analyses, which are not reliable enough to distinguish Verbena officinalis from other relevant species of the genus Verbena. Hence, impurities and adulterants, negatively influencing the therapeutic effect of the drug, may remain undetected. In an attempt to generate an accurate authentication method we used two different DNA-based approaches: comparison of ITS sequences and molecular markers (RAPD). Both approaches generally enabled discrimination of V. officinalis from the rest of the genus despite the intraspecific variation existing within V. officinalis. The application of the two independent methods, supporting each other, increases the security of identification. For better reproducibility and faster analysis, however, a SCAR marker and primers for HRM were derived from the RAPD results. The SCAR marker could distinguish V. officinalis from all other Verbena species except its closest relative V. hastata, while discrimination of V. officinalis even from V. hastata was unproblematic with HRM.

Key words

Verbena officinalis - Verbenaceae - identification - SCAR marker - ITS - high resolution melting analysis

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Joana Ruzicka

Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health
Institute of Applied Botany and Pharmacognosy
University of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinärplatz 1

1210 Wien

Austria

Phone: + 43 12 50 77 31 10

Fax: + 43 12 50 77 31 90

Email: Joana.Ruzicka@vu-wien.ac.at