Advancing Our Understanding of the Soil Microbial Communities Using QIIME Software: A 16S Data Analysis Pipeline

Rhazya stricta (Apocynaceae) is an important medicinal plant found commonly in South Asia (Pakistan, India and Afghanistan) and the Middle East (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and Iraq). It is used in local folk medicine to treat many diseases such as diabetes mellitus, certain inflammatory conditions, and helminthiasis because leaves of Rhazya stricta contains more than 100 alkaloids with diverse pharmacological properties [1]. Furthermore, as a perennial, it is likely that the associated microflora in the rhizosphere and on the leaves is controlled by the plant itself via these gene products and compounds. Plants use an array of secondary metabolites to defend themselves against harmful organisms and to attract others that are beneficial [2].