Characterization, Amplification, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Gossypium herbaceum Using rbcL Molecular Marker

People have used medicinal plants for centuries to produce traditional remedies that greatly interest modern health care. One of these plants, Gossypium herbaceum or commonly called Arabian cotton, has been used in various medicinal applications. Scientists are turning to DNA barcoding, a molecular technique that identifies species using standardized DNA regions. Objective: To evaluate samples of Gossypium herbaceum and their physical properties. Methods: DNA was extracted from the plant material, and its quality and quantity were checked. Using PCR and gel electrophoresis, amplification of the RBCL gene was done. Purification of the PCR products was done for DNA sequencing. After that, all the DNA sequences were compared with the available DNA sequences in public databases. The relationship between Gossypium herbaceum and other related species was evaluated using the neighbour-joining method for phylogenetic analysis. Results: The results showed a high percentage of pairwise nucleotide sequence identity with Gossypium richmond and Gossypium hirsutum. The study demonstrated the potential of DNA barcoding using the rbcL gene as a reliable method for identifying and confirming Gossypium herbaceum. Also, this study provides valuable insight into the phylogenetic relationships of this medicinal plant species. Conclusions: The findings support the conservation and appropriate use of medicinal plants and highlight the importance of ensuring the authenticity and quality of herbal products.