Abstract

BOTANICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF EREMOPHILA MACULATA AND EREMOPHILA PURPURASCENS (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

Rola Milad*, Fadia S. Youssef, Mohamed L. Ashour, and Abdel Nasser Singab

Abstract

Genus Eremophila belonging to family Scrophulariaceae comprises about 214 species; they are small xerophytic shrubs or treelets native to Australia. Their leaves and aerial parts have been used for many medicinal uses e.g. treatment of respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal disorders and skin diseases. The aim of the present work is to make an in-depth comparative macro- and micromorphological study of the stems and leaves of two Eremophila species, viz. E. maculata and E. purpurascens in order to help in the identification of these two species both in the entire and powdered forms. Moreover, a comparative genetic study was done, in which the DNA of both plants was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using 10 decamer random primers. Results: Both species differ in some morphological characters viz. the colour of the flower, fracture of the stem and the dimensions of the leaf. In the detailed microscopical examination, many variations exist between the two species including the presence of oil glands, non glandular hairs and the dimensions of the microelements. Genetically, a total of 227 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were identified, 39 were polymorphic representing a level of polymorphism of 17.18%. The primer (OPC-12) showed the highest degree of similarities (100%) while the lowest (69.23%) was shown by the primer (OPB-17).

Keywords: Botanical profiling, DNA fingerprint, Eremophila, Scrophulariaceae.