Abstract

AUTHENTICATION OF SEVERINIA BUXIFOLIA (POIR) TEN VIA DNA FINGERPRINT AND BOTANICAL FEATURES

Safaa A. Nour*, Maha M. Salama, Mustafa A. Abdel Kawy, Mohamed S. Hifnawy

ABSTRACT

Severinia buxifolia (Atalantia buxifolia), commonly known as the thorny evergreen shrub, is cultivated in the El-Orman botanical Garden, Giza, Egypt. Genus Severinia is used in folk medicine for the treatment of influenza, cough, malaria, and stomachache. Severinia buxifolia has been used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of chronic rheumatism, paralysis, snake bite and malaria, also used for foundation and as a hedge plant. Moreover leaves are used as yeast cake. This study ascribes the botanical identification of the rootlet, stem and leaves of Severinia buxifolia (Poir) Ten with the aim of identifying the plant in the entire and powder form. The DNA of this species was also achieved as a contribution and confirmation to the macro and micromorphology characterization of the plant. The botanical identification was in accordance with the general features of the family. Furthermore, DNA fingerprint can thus be used to distinguish the plant from other closely related species.

Keywords: Severinia; macromorphology; micromorphology; genetic profiling.