Correlation analysis between genetic and chemical differences of Nardostachys jatamansi from different habitats in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

In the traditional Tibetan medicinal system, the medicinal parts of Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. include the dried roots and rhizomes, which is effective in treating various diseases. In this study, molecular evolutionary analysis based on three markers (i.e., ITS, matK and rbcL), and principal component analysis (PCA) combined with 1H NMR measurements were used to assess the genetic and chemical differences of the N. jatamansi from different habitats in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. The results showed that the ITS marker was highly effective to identify the intraspecific variation of N. jatamansi. Furthermore, the results of the chemical analysis indicated that the nardosinone and sucrose, as the metabolite landmarks, can distinguish the different habitats of N. jatamansi in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Moreover, combining the chemical analysis with phylogenetic analysis, the results indicated that the metabolites differences may be affected not only by genetic structures but also by environmental factors. These findings provide valuable references for the effective protection and exploitation of N. jatamansi resources.