CHARACTERISTICS OF MORPHOLOGY, ANATOMY AND MOLECULAR TAXONOMY OF Aconitum carmichaelii Debx

Abstract

Aconitum contains aconitin, which is a toxic Category A drug, is highly toxic but still regarded as a valuable drug, which is commonly used in traditional oriental medicine. Aconitum in Vietnam is noted by two names, Aconitum fortunei and Aconitum carmichaelii. Therefore, it is necessary to study the identification of the exact scientific name of the Aconitum in Vietnam. This article presents the results of analysis of morphology, anatomy and molecular taxonomy of Aconitum in Quan Ba, Ha Giang province. The Aconitum in Quan Ba, Ha Giang province, Vietnam is a species Aconitum carmichaelii, the herbaceous plant, growing straight. Tuberous cone tuber include a mother  tuber and some child tubers. The roots are yellowish brown with many hairs. Anatomical structure of roots and leafs are typical of herbaceous plants. RpoC1 gene fragment isolated from Aconitum in Quan Ba, Ha Giang province is the size of 543 bp in length and rpoB2 gene fragment is 471 bp  in length. Compared to the rpoC1 and rpoB2 gene with code KX347251 on GenBank, sequence of rpoC1 gene and rpoB2 gene have a 99% homology. Sample of Aconitum collected in Quan Ba, Ha Giang province, Viet Nam and the sample of Aconitum with two genes rpoC1 and rpoB2 with code number KX347251 belonging to the species Aconitum carmichaelii, distributed in the same branch. Other species distribute in different branches.