Abstract:
The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  at species level, and more particularly, it relates to an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  species selected from the group of 4 specific primer sets and also the invention is directed to a kit useful for the identification of different species of  Phyllanthus  from a mixture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/920,585 filed Mar. 29, 2007; wherein this provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0002]    The Sequence Listing associated with this application is provided in text format in lieu of a paper copy, and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is 210172 — 404_SEQUENCE_LISTING.txt. The text file is 10 KB, was created on Mar. 28, 2008, and is being submitted electronically via EFS-Web, concurrent with the filing of the specification. 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  at species level. 
         [0004]    More particularly, it relates to an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  species selected from the group of 4 specific primer sets. 
         [0005]    Further, the invention relates to a kit useful for the identification of different species of  Phyllanthus  from a mixture. 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The species of  Phyllanthus  have been used since ancient times in different systems of medicine, particularly for the treatment of liver disorders and urinary infections but the concepts and identification of various species, particularly herbaceous ones, have been unclear mainly due to misidentification of specimens in several herbaria. The literature survey and extensive field studies conducted by Chaudhary and Rao (2002),  Phytotaxonomy  2: 143-162 revealed that out of the 40 species occurring in India, chiefly the allied herbaceous species, like  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis  are extensively used for jaundice and hepatitis whereas  P. urinaria  for urinary tract infection. These species are also used in stomach ailments like dyspepsia, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, dropsy, urinogenital problems and also as external application for oedomatous swelling and inflammation. These species are important ingredient in many ayurvedic preparations, especially for the treatment of jaundice. This species  Phyllanthus amarus  is distributed throughout India and is considered to be the most widely occurring species of  Phyllanthus  in India. 
         [0007]    In recent years, the interest in the plants of the genus  Phyllanthus  has increased considerably due to its therapeutic potential for the treatment of different diseases. Substantial literature on the chemistry and the pharmacological and clinical properties of the genus is available. Different classes of compounds have been isolated from the plants of this genus. Most of these compounds were found to interact with key enzymes of the animal/human system. But most of the time the species are confused or not properly identified leading to adulteration of crude drugs. The genus  Phyllanthus niruri  is non-existent in India. Hence the research works in the name of  P. niruri  is either similar species like  Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus fraternus  or  Phyllanthus debilis ; or abundantly available species of  Phyllanthus urinaria . So it is necessary to develop a marker system by which the individual species can be differentiated and more specifically the presence of  P. amarus  in the crude drug can be ascertained. Hence systematic experimentation was undertaken to develop a marker system for  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis  and  P. urinaria.    
         [0008]    Many genetic-marker technologies are adaptable to fingerprinting, including restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) Bostein et al. (1980) Am J Hum Genet 32:314-331; single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) Fischer et al. (1983) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80:1579-1583, Orita et al. (1989) Genomics 5:874-879; amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) Vos et al. (1995) Nucleic Acids Res 23:4407-4414; microsatellite or single-sequence repeat (SSR) Weber J L and May P E (1989) Am J Hum Genet 44:388-396; rapid-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Williams et al. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res 18:6531-6535; sequence tagged site (STS) Olson et al. (1989) Science 245:1434-1435; genetic-bit analysis (GBA) Nikiforov et al. (1994) Nucleic Acids Res 22:4167-4175; allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) Gibbs et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res 17:2437-2448, Newton et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res 17:2503-2516; nick-translation PCR (e.g., TaqMan™) Lee et al. (1993) Nucleic Acids Res 21:3761-3766 and allele-specific hybridization (ASH) Wallace et al. (1979) Nucleic Acids Res 6:3543-3557, (Sheldon et al. (1993) Clinical Chemistry 39(4):718-719) among others. Kits for RAPD and AFLP analyses are commercially available, e.g., from Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). For example, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique employs restriction enzyme digestion of DNA, followed by size separation of the digested DNA by gel electrophoresis, and hybridization of the size-separated DNA with a specific polynucleotide fragment. Differences in the size of the restriction fragments to which the polynucleotide probe binds reflect sequence differences in DNA samples, or DNA polymorphisms. See Tanksley, Biotechnology 7:257-264 (1988). (McCasky Feazel, et al. 2000. U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,030); (Jain, N et al., Current Science. 85 (10):1454-1458 (2003), (Hosokawa K et al Planta Med. 66(3): 270-2 (2000)). 
         [0009]    The novelty of the present invention is the unique DNA sequences those identified by using the simple Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA profile analysis and the methodology by which the SCAR markers can be used to detect or confirm the presence of different species in a crude drug mixture as it is not possible to identify the species in a crude drug morphologically. Also chemical analysis may not be reliable as a species may not produce all the chemicals at all developmental stages. Further the genotypes of plants within the species differ leading to differences in the chemical profiles. Till date full proof commercial methods to identify the species in the mixture of crude drug are not available. It is difficult to identify the investigated species in the intact plants itself and nearly impossible to identify the species in crude drug through conventional methods. So the present invention will help in determining the quality of crude drug with confirmation through these assigned DNA markers. 
         [0010]    Mainly the herbaceous species like  P. amarus  Schum. and Thonn,  P. fraternus  Webster and  P. debilis  Klein ex Willd have been reported to be extensively used for jaundice and  P. urinaria  L for urinary tract diseases. Modern research with  Phyllanthus  focuses on its potential for fighting viruses, specifically the hepatitis B virus (Shin et al.  Antiviral Research,  67,163-168 (2005)) and malaria parasite (Hout et al.  Journal of Ethnopharmacology,  107, 12-18 (2006)). Despite extensive use for a long time, confusion still prevails over the correct identity and nomenclature of the species as it commonly known as “Bhuianavala” or “Bhumyamalaki” in Indian literature and Ayurveda, representing a group of species comprising of  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis  and even  P. urinaria  ( FIG. 1 ). Several earlier workers included all these species especially  P. amarus, P. fraternus  and  P. debilis  under a single species  P. niruri  which was later described as ‘ niruri  complex’. The species  P. niruri  is an American species and not at all found in India. Webster ( Journal of the Arnold Arboretum,  38,295-373 (1957)) and Mitra and Jain ( Bulletin of the Botanical Survey of India,  27, 161-176 (1985)) showed that the  P. niruri  of Hooker is actually represented by above described three different species. Thus, confusion in identification of these herbaceous species is largely due to common vernacular names for all the species, similarity in gross morphology, close proximity in the growth habitat and extent of diverse morphological features of the species. This misidentification leads to deliberate or ignorant adulteration of crude drugs, lowering the efficiency of the medication for which it has to be used specifically, leading to decreased or deleterious effect of the drug when administered. So the present study was targeted to develop molecular markers, which would help in unambiguous identification of the above species. The marker can also be used in quality check in dry herbs samples exported from India. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The main object of the invention is to provide an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  species selected from the group of 4 specific primer sets, comprising the following sequences: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 (a) 
                 Set 1: (SEQ ID 10 &amp; 11) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTATCTTCGTATACGTCATGA-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTTCAAGCACAGCGGAAGAAG-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (b) 
                 Set 2: (SEQ ID 12 &amp; 13) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTGTTCTCGTTGAGCAAGGAT-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGAATTCCGATAGCCCAAAACGCAAAACA-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (c) 
                 Set 3: (SEQ ID 14 &amp; 15) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCATAGAAATTCAGGAACTAGG-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCGGACAACCAATGAGGGACGG-5′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (d) 
                 Set 4: (SEQ ID 16 &amp; 17) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCAAAGTGAGAAAATACATATC-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCTAGCAAGAAATTATAGCACA-3′. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0012]    Further another object of the present invention is to provide a kit useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  using the primer sets in equal proportions. 
         [0013]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a kit that is capable to identify the  Phyllanthus  selected from the group comprising  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis, P. urinaria.    
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention deals with an oligonucleotide primer set for the identification of different species of  Phyllanthus  selected from the group consisting of  Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus fraternus, Phyllanthus debilis, Phyllanthus urinaria  through polymerized chain reaction based detection. 
         [0015]    The present invention also provides a kit for identifying the particular species from the mixture of different  Phyllanthus  species. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an oligonucleotide primer set useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  species selected from the group of following primer sets, comprising the following sequences: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 (a) 
                 Set 1: (SEQ ID 10 &amp; 11) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTATCTTCGTATACGTCATGA-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTTCAAGCACAGCGGAAGAAG-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (b) 
                 Set 2: (SEQ ID 12 &amp; 13) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-AGAATTCCGTGTTCTCGTTGAGCAAGGAT-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGAATTCCGATAGCCCAAAACGCAAAACA-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (c) 
                 Set 3: (SEQ ID 14 &amp; 15) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCATAGAAATTCAGGAACTAGG-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCGGACAACCAATGAGGGACGG-5′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 (d) 
                 Set 4: (SEQ ID 16 &amp; 17) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 forward primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCAAAGTGAGAAAATACATATC-3′; 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverse primer: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′-TGGATCCGCTAGCAAGAAATTATAGCACA-3′. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0017]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the primers are used in equal proportions. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the primer Set 1 is useful for identification of  Phyllanthus amarus.    
         [0019]    In yet an embodiment of the present invention, the said primer set of SEQ ID No. 10 and SEQ ID No. 11 is capable to differentiate and identify the presence of  Phyllanthus amarus  by generating a fragment of 1150 base pair when amplified 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 65° C. and 2 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
         [0020]    In still an embodiment of the present invention, the primer Set 2 is useful for identification of  Phyllanthus fraternus.    
         [0021]    In still an embodiment of the present invention, the said primer set of SEQ ID No. 12 and SEQ ID No. 13 is capable to differentiate and identify the presence of  Phyllanthus fraternus  by generating a fragment of 317 base pair when amplified 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 55° C. and 1 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
         [0022]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, the primer Set 3 is useful for identification of  Phyllanthus debilis.    
         [0023]    In still an embodiment of the present invention, the said primer set of SEQ ID No. 14 and SEQ ID No. 15 is capable to differentiate and identify the presence of  Phyllanthus debilis  by generating a fragment of 980 base pair when amplified 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 55° C. and 1.5 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
         [0024]    In yet an embodiment of the present invention, the primer Set 4 is useful for identification of  Phyllanthus urinaria.    
         [0025]    In still an embodiment of the present invention, the said primer set of SEQ ID No. 16 and SEQ ID No. 17 is capable to differentiate and identify the presence of  Phyllanthus urinaria  by generating a fragment of 550 base pair when amplified 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 55° C. and 1.0 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles 
         [0026]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a kit useful for the identification of  Phyllanthus  species, comprises: 
         [0027]    i. sets of oligonucleotide primers as claimed in claim  1 ; 
         [0028]    ii. reagents and buffers to perform PCR amplification; 
         [0029]    iii. instruction manual to carry out the identification of  Phyllanthus.    
         [0030]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the primers used in the kit are in equal proportion. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the specific  Phyllanthus  species to be identified by the kit is selected from the group comprising  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis  and  P. urinaria.    
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  represents DNA profiles of  Phyllanthus  species generated through amplification with MAP 09 and MAP 10 primers 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  represents Species specific SCAR markers in  Phyllanthus.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    The present invention is based on the development of a DNA markers based probing kit useful for distinguishing and identification of different species of  Phyllanthus  ( Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus fraternus, Phyllanthus debilis, Phyllanthus urinaria ) used in crude plant based drug through polymerized chain reaction based detection. Further this is related to the identification of specific DNA sequences unique to the species based on which sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) primer pairs were generated. This provides a method for the detection of species mixture in the crude drug by identifying the specific DNA fragment size present in the amplified product of DNA samples of crude drug using SCAR primer pair. 
         [0035]    The following examples are given by way of illustration of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of present invention. 
       EXAMPLE 1 
     Collection and Identification of Plant Material 
       [0036]    The plant material chosen for analysis consisted of  P. amarus  and its closely related species ( P. fraternus, P. debilis, P. urinaria ), along with some other species like  P. virgatus, P. reticulata, P. maderaspatensis  belonging to the same genus. 93 plants of these species were collected from different parts of the country and randomly 10 plants from each species were taken for further analysis for marker development. These plants were maintained in the glasshouse (CIMAP, Lucknow). 
       EXAMPLE 2 
     Isolation of DNA 
       [0037]    Total DNA was extracted from approximately 3 g of leaf tissue, from each accession by following the protocol provided by Khanuja et al. (1999).  Plt Mol Biol Repr  17: 74. The concentration and purity of isolated DNA sample was estimated by taking absorbance at 260 and 280 nm which was also rechecked by loading 2 μl of each sample, in 0.8% agarose gel, along with standard λ DNA. 
       EXAMPLE 3 
     RAPD 
     Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA 
       [0038]    The RAPD analysis was carried out for all the accessions using 20 primers (MAP kit) (Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125) and the polymorphism was scored ( FIG. 1 ). The plant material of each of the species was collected from different geographical locations, throughout the country. Twenty plants were collected for each of the accessions. Out of this collection 10 accessions were randomly selected for each of the species to assess the similarity and differences in the profiles. The fragments monomorphic within the species (between the accessions i.e similar fragments present in all the accessions of the same species) but polymorphic between the species were chosen for cloning. For RAPD analysis, polymerase chain reaction was set up for each of the accessions. Amplifications were carried out in 25 μl volume containing 0.6U of Taq DNA polymerase enzyme, 1×Taq Polymerase assay buffer, 10 mM of each of the four dNTPs (dATPs, dCTPs, dGTPs, dTTPs), 5 pmole of random primer and 25 ng of DNA. Amplification was performed in a DNA Engine Thermal Cycler (MJ Research, USA) programmed to 45 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 35° C. and 2 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 45 cycles (Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125). The amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide and photographed with Image master VDS (Pharmacia). The bands were analyzed using Image master 1D elite software. Custom-made decanucleotide primers were synthesised in the GRB (Genetic Resources and Biotechnology) Division of CIMAP (Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants) on Applied Biosystems 392 DNA-RNA Synthesizer and were designated as MAP01 to MAP20. The sequences of the primers MAP 01 to MAP 20 were AAATCGGAGC (SEQ ID NO:18), GTCCTACTCG (SEQ ID NO:19), GTCCTTAGCG (SEQ ID NO:20), TGCGCGATCG (SEQ ID NO:21), AACGTACGCG (SEQ ID NO:22), GCACGCCGGA (SEQ ID NO:23), CACCCTGCGC (SEQ ID NO:24), CTATCGCCGC (SEQ ID NO:25), CGGGATCCGC (SEQ ID NO:1), GCGAATTCCG (SEQ ID NO:2), CCCTGCAGGC (SEQ ID NO:26), CCAAGCTTGC (SEQ ID NO:27), GTGCAATGAG (SEQ ID NO:28), AGGATACGTG (SEQ ID NO:29), AAGATAGCGG (SEQ ID NO:30), GGATCTGAAC (SEQ ID NO:31), TTGTCTCAGG (SEQ ID NO:32), CATCCCGAAC (SEQ ID NO:33), GGACTCCACG (SEQ ID NO:34), AGCCTGACGC (SEQ ID NO:36), respectively. 
         [0039]    All the RAPD profiles thus generated were analyzed for unique band appearing in  P. amarus, P. fraternus, P. debilis  and  P. urinaria  species and absent in the other closely related species. Primer MAP 09 and MAP 10 were finally selected finally as unique species-specific fragments were identified in the RAPD profiles using these primers. The species DNA, primer and the specific unique band size identified have been presented below. 
         [0000]                                                Size of                       unique   RAPD primer           fragment   that generated   Sequence of       Species   (bp)   the fragment   the primer                     P.amarus     1150   MAP 10   GCGAATTCCG                       (SEQ ID NO: 2)                 P.fraternus      317   MAP 10   GCGAATTCCG                   (SEQ ID NO: 2)                 P.debilis      980   MAP 09   CGGGATCCGC                   (SEQ ID NO: 1)                 P.urinaria      550   MAP 09   CGGGATCCGC                   (SEQ ID NO: 1)                    
These bands were also seen to be present for all the accessions of respective species (collected from various locations) in the profile generated through primer MAP 09 and 10 that assured of the consistency of the presence of band in these species and their specificity as the marker for the aforesaid species. The species specific fragments obtained through amplification were cloned in commercially available pBluescript II SK (+) vector.
 
       EXAMPLE 4 
     Isolation, Cloning and Sequencing Analysis of Species Specific Fragments 
       [0040]    The genomic DNA of  Phyllanthus amarus  and  Phyllanthus fraternus  were amplified using specific primer MAP 10 (GCGAATTCCG; Seq Id No. 2) carrying restriction enzyme site EcoR1 (GAATTC). Similar reactions were carried out for  Phyllanthus debilis  and  Phyllanthus urinaria  using primer MAP 09 (CGGGATCCGC; Seq. Id. No. 1) carrying restriction enzyme site BamH1 (GGATCC). The amplification reaction products were run on low melting agarose gel and the specific species identifying fragments as described in example 3 were isolated and purified. These species-specific fragments were cloned in commercially available plasmid pBluescript II SK (+) and transformed into  Escherichia coli  cell (DH5□) strains (Stratagene Inc, USA). The fragments were sequenced using ABI 377 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, USA) from both sides with the help of T7 (Forward) and T3 (Reverse) primers (Stratagene Inc, USA). The following nucleotide sequences were obtained for different species-specific fragments. 
         [0000]    
       Phyllanthus amarus  
     
         [0041]    Sequence of the  P. amarus  specific fragment [GRB/EA 1150  F] (SEQ ID NO:3) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′AGAATTCCGTATCTTCGTATACGTCATGAT AGTTAGATCATGTGAAAT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCATGATAAGCAAATACTATAGACGGATAACCTAGTATTTAAGTTCTGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTATACCAGAGGCAGTCCTGTAAAAGGCTATGTGTGGACTAAAAGAAGGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTATGTCCATTGAAGACTGAAACTTCTGTGTGATGTAATTAAACTGCGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCAGTGGATGAGAATACATCACAGCACTATTAAGTATGGTGTGTAATAAG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTGCCCTGGGCATAGAAAATATTTAAAGATTTTGCCCCCTTTTTCTACTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTGGGACACTCGGTACTCATCAAGAGGATCTCTACAGCCCCATTATACCT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GAGAAAATTATTAGACAAGCATACTATTCTCGCCATTTGATTTGTTTTGT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGAAAAAAATCCGCTACACTTGGTTTTG 3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0042]    Complementary strand of  P. amarus  specific fragment [GRB/EA 1150  R] (SEQ ID NO:4) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′AGAATTCCGTTCAAGCACAGCGGAAGAAGA TTATAAATAATAACCTAT 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTATCGAAAATCACCCGGATCCACACACGCCTTAGTGTCGATACGGAGTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GATTCGCCCTCGTTATTACGCGAATATGACGTTTCTAGAAATACTTTTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGAGAGAAATTTCAGATTTCTCTAATCTGAAAAATGTGGGATTTTATGTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TAAAATCTAAAGTGAATGAAACTTGATCTCATTCTTCTATTCTAGAGAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATAGTGACCTTTCCGAAAAGGTACCTTTTCACTATAATTGCATTTTAGTC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CTGAACTTAATATAGTTTATTTGACGTACTAAACGTCATGGGCGGATAAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TAATTCTTTCATCTCCCACTCGCACATGACGGTGCGAATCAAACAAAACC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTTTCTTTGAAACAACCAT 3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
       
       Phyllanthus fraternus  
     
         [0043]    Complete sequence of the  P. fraternus  specific fragment [GRB/EF 317 ] (SEQ ID NO:5) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′AGAATTCCGTGTTCTCGTTGAGCAAGGAT TTGATTTCTGCGCATTTCG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTGTCAATCGTTCATTTATTGCTGAGAATTAGGATATTTGCGATTTTGCA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTCACGACACTGGTTTTCTTTTTTCGTGCATTTTCCTCGAGAAGAGTTG 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGTTATTTCTCAGTTTTGCACCTAGTATTTCAATTCCTTCTGATTTTGCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTTCGGGTTACAGTGTTCTTGGTTTTTGTTTTATTTTGTTGGTCGAAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TGGTTTTGTGCGTAGCCTGGAG CTGAGTATTTGGGTTTCTTGTGTTTTGC   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 
                   GTTTTGGGCTATCGGAATTCA 3′ 
                 
               
             
          
         
       
       
       Phyllanthus debilis  
     
         [0044]    Sequence of the  P. debilis  specific fragment [GRB/BD 980 F] (SEQ ID NO:6) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′TGGATCCGCATAGAAATTCAGGAACTAGG ATCCTAATTGACCCGAAAA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATCGAAATTCACAATTACTTAACTTAAATCCCTATGATCTATGATTAGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTAGGTATCATTTGAGCAGGCTTGGCAAAACCCTTGTATAGCTTCTTCGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTCTCGATAAAAATAAATCTGACCAACAGTAGTTCGAATGTATATACAA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGAATTTCTTTTTTTACACTTCTTATTATTAGATAGTGTCCATAAATTTC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATGATAGGTACCCAAAGGCTCATAATGA3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0045]    Complementary strand of the  P. debilis  specific fragment [BD 980 R] (SEQ ID NO:7) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′TGGATCCGCGGACAACCAATGAGGGACGG TCATAATAAGGTTTACAAG 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCATTTTCAGATGTAATTGAAGGAAAAGAAGGAAGAATTCGCGAGACTAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GCTTGGCAAACGAGTTTATTATTCAGGACGTTCTGTCATTGTCGTGTGCC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CCTCACTTTCAATACATCGATGTGGATGCCTCGCGAAATCGCAATAGAGC 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TTTTTCAGACATTTGTAATTCGTTGTCTAATTAGACAACATCTTGCTT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
       
       Phyllanthus urinaria  
     
         [0046]    Sequence of the  P. urinaria  specific fragment [GRB/BU 550 F] (SEQ ID NO:8) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′TGGATCCGCAAAGTGAGAAAATACATATC AATCGGTGTATTAATACCA 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGGCAAAAGATAGACCACATCTTGGTATAGAAGACCGATAACTAATAACA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GTTGAACACGAAAAAACCGGGAGCGAGGGGTAATTGACCCGACCAACCTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AGAGATGTGAATGAGAGAAAAGCCTGGTCGGGCCTTTGAATATATTAATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 GGAGTCTGAGGAGAAAGGAATGGCGAGAATAATAATTGACGACAGACAAT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TCATTTATTGCCAAGC3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0047]    Complementary strand of the  P. urinaria  specific fragment [GRB/BU 550 R] (SEQ ID NO:9) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   5′TGGATCCGCTAGCAAGAAATTATAGCACA CCACACTATTTGAAATGTC 
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TATGACAAATCAGTGACCTTTACAATTTTACATAATTCTTTTATCCTTTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ATACCTAGAATTAATATAAGGGCATGGGATCAATCATCCTTATACCATTA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AATCCTTTCTTGGATTCTTCAATGGAATTGGTCAATTCAAAAAAATAATT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TAACTTAATTAATTACCCTGGGGGGGCGCCACCTTTCATAGGTCAATGGA 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 CAAGGGGGCCATGGGG3′ 
               
             
          
         
       
     
       EXAMPLE 5 
     Construction of Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) Marker for  Phyllanthus  Species 
       P. Amarus, P. Fraternus, P. Debilis  and  P. Urinaria    
       [0048]    The sequence from both the ends, which included the restriction enzyme site, was taken for synthesizing specific primer to serve as SCAR marker. One base was added before the restriction enzyme site, at the 5′ end. The primers finally designed are being presented in below. One forward and one reverse primer were designed from both the ends, respectively and synthesized on Perkin Elmer DNA/RNA Synthesizer ABI 392 (Applied Biosystems, USA). Hence fourth, the primer pairs (Forward and Reverse) are referred as SCAR primers and the species-specific fragment generated by them as SCAR fragment or marker. 
       Details of Species Specific Primer Pair Synthesized to Generate Scar Markers 
       [0049]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 S. 
                   
                   
                 Tm 
                 % GC 
                   
               
               
                 No 
                 Species 
                 Primer sequences 
                 (° C.) 
                 conent 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 
                   P.amarus 
                 
                 Forward primer: 
                 55.8 
                 34.5 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′A GAATTCCG TATCTTCGTATACGTCATGA 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 10) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Reverse primer: 
                 61.4 
                 48.3 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′A GAATTCCG TTCAAGCACAGCGGAAGAAG3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 11) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 2 
                 
                   P.fraternus 
                 
                 Forward primer: 
                 60 
                 44.8 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′A GAATTCCG TGTTCTCGTTGAGCAAGGAT 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 12) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Reverse primer: 
                 58.6 
                 41.4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 T GAATTCCG ATAGCCCAAAACGCAAAACA3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 13) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 3 
                 
                   P.debilis 
                 
                 Forward primer 
                 60 
                 44.8 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′T GGATCCGC ATAGAAATTCAGGAACTAGG 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 14) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Reverse primer 
                 67.1 
                 62.1 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′T GGATCCGC GGACAACCAATGAGGGACGG 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 15) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 4 
                 
                   P.urinaria 
                 
                 Forward primer 
                 57.2 
                 37.9 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′T GGATCCGC AAAGTGAGAAAATACATATC 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 16) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Reverse primer 
                 58.6 
                 41.4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5′T GGATCCGC TAGCAAGAAATTATAGCACA 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3′ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (SEQ ID NO: 17) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0050]    These primer pairs were used to amplify the DNA of respective species, so as to optimize the conditions for amplification. After optimization of the amplification conditions, SCAR primer pair was used to amplify other closely related species of the same genus along with species for which the specific primer is designed, to ensure that the SCAR primer pair correctly identified the species. PCR products were run on 1.2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide ( FIG. 2 ). 
       Optimized Conditions for Amplification of Scar Markers with Primer Pairs Designed for  Phyllanthus  sps 
       [0051]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Step I 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Initial 
                 Step II 
                   
                 Step III 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Denaturation 
                 Denaturation 
                 Annealing 
                 Extension 
                   
                 Final extension 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Name of the 
                 Temp 
                 Time 
                 Temp 
                 Time 
                 Temp 
                 Time 
                 Temp 
                 Time 
                 No. of 
                 Temp 
                 Time 
               
               
                 Species 
                 (° C.) 
                 (min) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (min) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (min) 
                 (° C.) 
                 (min) 
                 cycles 
                 (° C.) 
                 (min) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 
                   P. amarus 
                 
                 94 
                 5 
                 94 
                 1 
                 65 
                 1 
                 72 
                 2 
                 40 
                 72 
                 5 
               
               
                 
                   P. fraternus 
                 
                 94 
                 5 
                 94 
                 1 
                 55 
                 1 
                 72 
                 1 
                 40 
                 72 
                 5 
               
               
                 
                   P. debilis 
                 
                 94 
                 5 
                 94 
                 1 
                 60 
                 1 
                 72 
                 1.5 
                 40 
                 72 
                 5 
               
               
                 
                   P. urinaria 
                 
                 94 
                 5 
                 94 
                 1 
                 55 
                 1 
                 72 
                 1 
                 40 
                 72 
                 5 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0052]    The species-specific primer pairs generated different amplification products for each of the respective species when amplified using the optimized conditions.  P. amarus  specific primer pair generated a single fragment of 1150 bp with DNA sample of  P. amarus  and no product with other species amplified simultaneously, as control. The  P. fraternus  specific primer pair produced fragment of about 317 bp with the DNA sample of  P. fraternus  and a fragment of low intensity of about 500 bp with DNA sample of  P. urinaria  and no fragments with the DNA samples of other species. The primer pair specific to  P. debilis  generated a fragment of 980 bp with DNA sample of  P. debilis. P. debilis  DNA also produced two lighter fragments of 564 bp and 125 bp. This primer pair also generated a fragment of 125 bp in other species i.e.  P. urinaria  and  P. reticulata  in addition to  P. debilis  whereas a heavy fragment (about 500 bp) was obtained with  P. amarus  DNA. The primer pair specific to  P. urinaria  amplified two fragments of about 550 bp and 200 bp with the DNA sample of  P. urinaria  and no fragments with the DNA sample of other species amplified with the same primer pair. These SCAR primers identified the presence of species in a crude drug mixture. The methodology for identification is provided in the next example. 
       EXAMPLE 6 
     Methodology for Identification of Different Species of  Phyllanthus    
     DNA Isolation 
       [0053]    DNA Sample was isolated from crude drug mixture following the protocol of Khanuja et al., (1999).  Plt Mol Bio Repor.  17: 74. 
         [0000]    Detection of  Phyllanthus amarus  in the Crude Drug Mixture Using SCAR Primer Pair 
         [0054]    1. Amplification of DNA using
       a. Forward primer:       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 5′A GAATTCCG TATCTTCGTATACGTCATGA 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 10) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 Reverse primer: 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 5′A GAATTCCG TTCAAGCACAGCGGAAGAAG3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 11) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             b. Following the protocol of Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125. 
             c. In a thermal cycler programmed to 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 65° C. and 2 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
             d. The amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide and photographed with Image master VDS (Pharmacia). The bands were analyzed using Image master 1D elite software. 
           
         
       
     
         [0060]    2 . P. amarus  specific primer pair generates a single fragment of 1150 bp with DNA sample of  P. amarus  and not with other species amplified simultaneously, as control. This identifies the presence of  P. amarus  in crude drug mixture. 
         [0000]    Detection of  Phyllanthus fraternus  in the Crude Drug Mixture Using SCAR Primer Pair 
         [0061]    1. Amplification of DNA using
       a. Forward primer:       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 5′A GAATTCCG TGTTCTCGTTGAGCAAGGAT 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 12) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 Reverse primer: 5′ 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 T GAATTCCG ATAGCCCAAAACGCAAAACA3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 13) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             b. Following the protocol of Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125 
             c. In a thermal cycler programmed to 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 55° C. and 1 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
             d. The amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide and photographed with Image master VDS (Pharmacia). The bands were analyzed using Image master 1D elite software. 
           
         
       
     
         [0067]    2 . P. fraternus  specific primer pair produces fragment of about 317 bp with the DNA sample of  P. fraternus  and a fragment of low intensity of about 500 bp with DNA sample of  P. urinaria  and no fragments with the DNA samples of other species. This SCAR marker of 312 bp generated from specific SCAR primers identifies  P. fraternus  in crude drug mixture. 
         [0000]    Detection of  Phyllanthus debilis  in the Crude Drug Mixture Using SCAR Primer Pair 
         [0068]    1. Amplification of DNA using
       a. Forward primer: 5′       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 T GGATCCGC ATAGAAATTCAGGAACTAGG 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 14) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 Reverse primer: 5′ 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 T GGATCCGC GGACAACCAATGAGGGACGG 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 15) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             b. Following the protocol of Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125 
             c. In a thermal cycler programmed to 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 60° C. and 1.5 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
             d. The amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide and photographed with Image master VDS (Pharmacia). The bands were analyzed using Image master 1D elite software. 
             2. The primer pair specific to  P. debilis  generates a fragment of 980 bp with DNA sample of  P. debilis. P. debilis  DNA also produced two lighter fragments of 564 bp and 125 bp. This primer pair also generated a fragment of 125 bp in other species i.e.  P. urinaria  and P.  reticulata  in addition to  P. debilis  whereas a heavy fragment (about 500 bp) was obtained with  P. amarus  DNA. So the presence of 980 bp fragment identifies  P. debilis.  
 
Detection of  Phyllanthus urinaria  in the Crude Drug Mixture Using SCAR Primer Pair
 
           
         
       
     
         [0075]    1. Amplification of DNA using
       a. Forward primer:       
 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 5′T GGATCCGC AAAGTGAGAAAATACATATC 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 16) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 Reverse primer: 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 5′T GGATCCGC TAGCAAGAAATTATAGCACA 3′ 
                 (SEQ ID NO: 17) 
                   
               
             
          
         
       
       
         
           
             b. Following the protocol of Khanuja et al., 2000 . Euphytica.  111: 121-125 
             c. In a thermal cycler programmed to 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94° C., 1 minute at 55° C. and 1 minutes at 72° C. for denaturing, annealing, and extension respectively, with an initial denaturation for 5 minutes at 94° C. and a final extension for 5 minutes at 72° C. after 40 cycles. 
             d. The amplification products were resolved by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gel containing 0.5 μg/ml of ethidium bromide and photographed with Image master VDS (Pharmacia). The bands were analyzed using Image master 1D elite software. 
           
         
       
     
         [0081]    2. The primer pair specific to  P. urinaria  amplified two fragments of about 550 bp and 200 bp with the DNA sample of  P. urinaria  and no fragments with the DNA sample of other species amplified with the same primer pair. This SCAR marker identifies  P. urinaria    
       ADVANTAGES 
       [0082]    The main advantages of the present invention are: 
         [0083]    i. The present invention is useful for detecting the presence of species in dry leaf samples exported as bulk herbal drug. 
         [0084]    ii. The present invention is useful for identifying correct species for use in research related to activity purpose. 
         [0085]    All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, including but not limited to U.S. No. 60/920,585, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.