Nuclear ribosomal DNA-ITS region based molecular markers to distinguish botanical entities traded as †̃Vidariâ€TM

‘Vidari’ is an Ayurvedic herbal drug used as aphrodisiac and galactagogue. It is also used in the preparation of Chyavanaprash, an Ayurvedic Nutraceutical. Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India correlates tubers of Pueraria tuberosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) DC (Fabaceae) as ‘Vidari’ and Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. (Convolvulaceae) as Kshiravidari, used as a substitute for Vidari in some parts of India. Tubers of Adenia hondala (Gaertn.) de Wilde (Passifloraceae) and pith of Cycas circinalis L. (Cycadaceae) are also traded in the name of Vidari, creating issues of botanical authenticity of the raw drug. DNA markers to distinguish the botanical entities traded as ‘Vidari’ were developed by amplifying and sequencing the complete nuclear ribosomal DNA – internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA and ITS2) from the genomic DNA, using universal primers. Genetic variation in the rDNA-ITS region was identified and exploited to develop species-specific markers. These markers are efficient and reliable in distinguishing P. tuberosa, I. mauritiana, A. hondala and C. circinalis and can be used as molecular pharmacognostic