Abstract
Juniperus (Cupressaceae, Pinales) plants are widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
of China. The leaves and twigs of at least 8 Juniperus species (J. pingii, J. pingii var. wilsonii, J. squamata, J. recurva var. coxii, J. saltuaria, J. indica, J. tibetica and J. convallium var. microsperma) have been used as the Tibetan medicine Xuba. At present, it is difficult to distinguish among the original species of Xuba based only on their similar morphological characteristics. However, in our previous
studies, 4 Xuba samples from different Juniperus species exhibited significant differences in both anticomplementary activity in vitro and anti-inflammatory effects on acute lung injury in vivo. To identify the effective original species of Xuba reliably, in this study, we developed a sequencing-based DNA molecular technology
to distinguish 14 populations of 8
Juniperus species collected from Tibet region, using trnS-G, trnD – T, and petN-psbM genomic
regions to build phylogenetic trees. In addition, their anticomplementary activities
were evaluated. The results showed that combined sequence of these 3 genomic regions
could identify 8 Juniperus species clearly and clustered individuals of one species but from different locations,
whichever phylogenetic tree was constructed. Moreover, the anticomplementary activities
of the 8 species were clustered into 2 groups. Among them, J. saltuaria and J. recurva var. coxii, which formed an independent branch apart from the other 6 species in phylogenetic
trees, were the most potent (CH50: 0.029 – 0.032 mg/mL). Consequently, DNA identification of Juniperus using the combined sequence could provide beneficial guidance for further efficacy
evaluation and quality control of Xuba.
Key words
Juniperus
- Cupressaceae - Tibetan medicine -
Xuba
- DNA identification - anticomplementary activity -
Cupressus
