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Planta Med 2004; 70(10): 929-935
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832619
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Genetic Profiling of Hypericum (St. John’s Wort) Species by Nuclear Ribosomal ITS Sequence Analysis

Sara L. Crockett1 , Andrew W. Douglas2 , Brian E. Scheffler3 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 4
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 2Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 3USDA-ARS-NPURU, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS, USA
  • 4National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 19, 2004

Accepted: July 20, 2004

Publication Date:
18 October 2004 (online)

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Abstract

A PCR-based DNA amplification method was applied to genetically distinguish the popular dietary supplement Hypericum perforatum L. (common St. John’s Wort) from other related Hypericum species. Nuclear ribosomal gene sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were analyzed for 50 Hypericum taxa native to the Old and New Worlds, representing 11 of the 36 currently accepted taxonomic sections. This study provides a genetic method for authentication of commercial H. perforatum preparations. In addition, these data allow a preliminary assessment of phylogenetic relationships within the genus, revealing three strongly supported monophyletic clades, plus several secondary monophyletic groupings. Using ITS gene sequences, we were able to distinguish H. perforatum from all other species of Hypericum included in this study.

Key words

St. John’s Wort - Hypericum - Clusiaceae - rDNA ITS - genetic profiling