Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis of Centella Asiatica and Two Species of Hedyotis

Lim, Bing Sheng (2018) Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis of Centella Asiatica and Two Species of Hedyotis. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

The use of herbal medicine has a long tradition and is still gaining worldwide acceptance and popularity. Correct identification is essential for authentication of herbal drugs. Medicinal plants are often sold as dried aerial parts, roots, or in processed forms in local markets and shops. Identification can be difficult and it gets more challenging when the plants are morphologically similar. There are many identical herbs in this world such as Hedyotis diffusa (Bai hua she she cao) a well-known folk medicine commonly used as a component of herb tea, is usually confused with Hedyotis corymbosa, another species of the same genus from the Rubiaceae family. Besides that, there were two types of Centella asiatica were found, one was with broken, incomplete leaves and another type was with round and complete leaves. Centella asiatica, locally known as pegaga, is well-known as ulam and as a medicinal herb of the family Apiaceae. There are two accessions: one with kidney-shaped scallop-edged leaves, while the other has smooth round leaves. This project aims to distinguish the four selected plants using a molecular technique to detect random amplified polymorphic DNA variation. Two methods of DNA extraction were used which were the modified CTAB method and a rapid method used by Sika et al., 2015. Sixteen primers were used to amplify the DNA samples of Centella asiatica and fifteen primers were used to amplify the DNA samples of Hedyotis diffusa and Hedyotis corynbosa. After the RAPD analysis, gel electrophoresis was done to observe polymorphic bands. DNA smears were shown in 1.5% agarose gel. Possible problems were discussed.