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

Sara L. Crockett; Andrew W. Douglas; Brian E. Scheffler; Ikhlas A. Khan

doi:10.1055/s-2004-832619

Planta Medica, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Planta Med 2004; 70(10): 929-935
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832619

Original Paper

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

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

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