title: Assessment of genetic diversity of 12 populations of Azadirachta indica A. Juss from three different locations in Lagos State, Nigeria using RAPD markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effects of plant materials typically result from the combination of secondary products present in the plant. Neem tree is a common source of natural products for development of medicines against various diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at determining the genetic relatedness of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) collected from three locations in Lagos State.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leave samples were collected and DNA was extracted using Dellarporta method with modifications. Several random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were screened for polymorphism and amplifications and only six that showed good amplifications and polymorphism were selected for DNA amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produced a total of 51 bands from 6 primers. Primer AC07 gave the highest numbers of polymorphic bands (12) while AG1 produced the least with 5 polymorphic bands when the products were run on agarose gel. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram generated, grouped the samples into one single cluster with two major subgroups. The 12 populations showed no variation in their genomic composition based on their location.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is an indication of homogeneity in the population of neem plants collected from different locations with a possible consistency in pharmacological activities if investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos-Nigeria. awodeleo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Awodele
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ogunkanmi
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oyelakin
mesh_terms: D031601:Azadirachta / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D009549:Nigeria; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers