Molecular identification of Ageratum conyzoides Linn (asteracea) leaf using DNA barcoding technique
Background and AimsReliable and accurate identification of medicinal plants is very pivotal for their safe use and handling in new drug development. This study is aimed at identifying the leaf of A. conyzoides Linn plant by using popular DNA barcode technique. MethodsGenomic DNA was isolated from the plant sample followed its amplification through polymerase chain reaction convectional method. DNA barcoding specifically, Mat-K was used to identify and classify the plant sample. Consequently, plant sample was purified and sequenced. An evolutionary tree was constructed to assess A. conyzoides common ancestry. ResultsThe plant sample showed a high degree of homology with known sequences in NCBI database after blasting analysis. ConclusionsThe findings indicated that DNA barcoding is a reliable and effective for medicinal plant identification and Maturase K (mat-K gene) is a reliable option for this application.