Variants of Tribulus species – a scientific study through DNA RAPD – molecular characterization

Abstract

Gokshura a well-known drug in Ayurveda which is extensively used in many disease conditions like dysuria, asthma, diabetes, cough, oedema, cardiac disorders etc. Tribulus terrestris (Family – Zygophyllaceae) is an official source of Gokshura as per API. Five species of genus Tribulus are found throughout India with a slight morphological difference. In this study, three different species of Tribulus genus from different regions were subjected for molecular characterization by RAPD method. Analysis showed that three different samples gave clearly similar banding pattern with each of the random primers used and 80% similarity between the three samples were observed when the results were subjected to band scoring and analysis with clustering. Even through the micromorpholgical observations showed differentiating characters in mature carpels and intrastaminal glands of the selected species.