Molecular authentication of Panax notoginseng by specific AFLP-derived SCAR marker.

Abstract

The genus Panax contains several medicinal species highly treasured in the Orient. P. notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen (Sanchi) produced in Southern China are used as a hematostatic for hemorrhage. In order to develop species-specific molecular markers for P. notoginseng, amplifed fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were applied among P. ginseng, P. japonicus, P. quinquefoliusand P. notoginseng. A clear species-specific AFLP marker for P. notoginsengwas generated. After isolation and sequencing of AFLP fragments, a DNA sequence (509 bp) was obtained and named of PNG 8. Two specific primers (PNG 8-1 and PNG 8-2) were designed within the sequence of PNG 8 for amplification of DNA at 402 and 260 bp respectively. PCR analysis revealed a unique amplified band pattern for P. notoginseng compared to other Panaxspecies (P. ginseng, P. japonicus, and P. quinquefolius). This sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) marker which will be used for rapid authentication of P. notoginseng among other related Panax species. This is the first report of species-specific SCAR marker development in P. notoginseng. Key words: AFLP, authentication, molecular marker, Panax notoginseng, SCAR marker.