title: Development of intron length polymorphism markers in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase for discriminating Curcuma species.
abstract: Various Curcuma rhizomes have been used as medicines or spices in Asia since ancient times. It is very difficult to distinguish them morphologically, especially when they are boiled and dried, which causes misidentification leading to a loss of efficacy. We developed a method for discriminating Curcuma species by intron length polymorphism markers in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase. This method could apply to identification of not only fresh plants but also samples of crude drugs or edible spices. By applying this method to Curcuma specimens and samples, and constructing a dendrogram based on these markers, seven Curcuma species were clearly distinguishable. Moreover, Curcuma longa specimens were geographically distinguishable. On the other hand, Curcuma kwangsiensis (gl type) specimens also showed intraspecies polymorphism, which may have occurred as a result of hybridization with other Curcuma species. The molecular method we developed is a potential tool for global classification of the genus Curcuma.
authors.affiliation: Central Research & Development Institute, House Foods Group Inc., 1-4 Takanodai Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0033, Japan. Electronic address: t-kita@housefoods.co.jp.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Resources, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Resources, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Tsukuba Division, Research Center for Medicinal Plant Resources, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, 1-2, Hachimandai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Tanegashima Division, Research Center for Medicinal Plant Resources, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, 17007-2, Matsubarayama, Noma, Nakatane-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima 891-3604, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.affiliation: Tsukuba Division, Research Center for Medicinal Plant Resources, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, 1-2, Hachimandai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.affiliation: Central Research & Development Institute, House Foods Group Inc., 1-4 Takanodai Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.affiliation: Central Research & Development Institute, House Foods Group Inc., 1-4 Takanodai Yotsukaido, Chiba 284-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masamura
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xue-yuan Road, Haidian Dist., Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shao-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007438:Introns; D008025:Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D027343:Rhizome / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D010940:Plant Proteins; D008025:Ligases; C516709:curcuminoid synthase, Curcuma longa
keywords: Curcuma; Curcumin synthase; Intron length polymorphism; Molecular identification; trnK