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To determine the variation of rDNA ITS sequences in medicinal plants of the genus Bupleurum and identify corresponding DNA molecular markers associated with medicinally important members, ITS regions were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed by DNAssist version 2.2. We found that the homologous alignment of ITS sequences between members of the genus Bupleurum and associated out-groups was lower than 75%, while within-group alignment was greater than 87%. The conclusion can be drawn that ITS sequences can be used as reliable molecular markers for the identification of Radix Bupleuri.

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The genus Leonurus has long been recognized as a natural group, but its interspecific relationship has not yet been studied in the light of sequence data. The ITS regions and matK sequences of all subgenera of Leonurus in China were amplified, sequenced and investigated. Phylogenies generated by maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining methods and division of the genus into two major clades. The phylogenetic results indicated that L. chaituroides has the very close phylogenetic relationship with Subg. Cardiochilium and supported the notion that L. macranthus acts as the bridge between Subg. cardiochilium and Subg. Leonurus. According to the analysis of information given by ITS and matK sequences, we suggest that ITS sequences would be more suitable to serve as markers for authentication of Herba Leonuri than matK does.