Genetic analysis guided Salacia resource exploration: on the diversity of Salacia species in China

Field investigations, together with genetic and chemical analyses on Salacia species distributed in China were conducted. The nucleotide sequences of the nuclear DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region and the chloroplast trnK-rps16 Intergenic Spacer region were analyzed and compared, revealing characteristic sequences of the respective species. The nrDNA ITS sequences provided useful information to authenticate Salacia species and to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship within the Salacia genus. Genetic identification results revealed that S. chinensis and S. reticulate are the major sources of commercially available Salacia-products. Based on the ITS sequences, a convenient PCR-RFLP assay was established for the identification of the medicinally used Salacia species as well as their derived health food products.

中国南西部および南部に分布するSalacia属植物の調査と共に遺伝子多型解析を行い、遺伝情報に基づき構築した分子系統関係をインデクスにすることで、分類学上の整理に有益な知見を与えた。サラシアの基原種の簡便な同定法を開発することにより、日本市場に流通するサラシア製品の正確な同定が可能となり、消費者の信頼性向上や品質管理の強化に寄与した。