Molecular Systematics of Genus Atractylodes (Compositae, Cardueae): Evidence from Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and trnL-F Sequences

Abstract

To determine the evolutionary relationships among all members of the genus Atractylodes (Compositae, Cardueae), we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of one nuclear DNA (nrDNA) region (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and one chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) region (intergenic spacer region of trnL-F). In ITS and ITS + trnL-F trees, all members of Atractylodes form a monophyletic clade. Atractylodes is a sister group of the Carlina and Atractylis branch. Atractylodes species were distributed among three clades: (1) A. carlinoides (located in the lowest base of the Atractylodes phylogenetic tree), (2) A. macrocephala, and (3) the A. lancea complex, including A. japonica, A. coreana, A. lancea, A. lancea subsp. luotianensis, and A. chinensis. The taxonomic controversy over the classification of species of Atractylodes is mainly concentrated in the A. lancea complex. In base on molecular results, the intraspecific division of Atractylodes lancea is not supported, and A. coreana should be treated as a synonym A. chinensis.

Chloroplast Genome Variation and Phylogenetic Relationships of Atractylodes species

“…6). A. lancea is a polytype species based on the morphology [47,48] and ITS and trnL-F of multiple individuals [16]. A. coreana is distributed only in the Liaodong and Shadong Peninsulas.…”

Development of 18 microsatellite markers for Atractylodes japonica

“…Kitam. (Shi, ; Kunio et al., ; Peng et al., ). There is considerable taxonomic debate regarding this; A. japonica has been treated as a synonym for A. lancea in some reports (Shi and Greuter, ; Peng et al., ).…”

“…(Shi, ; Kunio et al., ; Peng et al., ). There is considerable taxonomic debate regarding this; A. japonica has been treated as a synonym for A. lancea in some reports (Shi and Greuter, ; Peng et al., ). However, the Korean and Japanese Pharmacopoeia not only distinguish the two species but also treat them as distinct herbal medicines (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, ; Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan, ).…”

“…Unlike A. macrocephala and A. lancea , which are native to China, A. japonica grows naturally in the Republic of Korea (Lee, ). Although the two species are similar in appearance, A. japonica is monoecious and produces a white flower, whereas A. macrocephala is gynodioecious and produces a claret flower (Peng et al., ; Jeong et al., ). The mass of a seed of A. japonica is half of that of A. macrocephala ; thus, it takes longer for A. japonica seeds to germinate (Rural Development Administration, ).…”

Anti-proliferative Effects of Atractylis lancea (Thunb.) DC. via Down-regulation of the c-myc/hTERT/Telomerase Pathway in Hep-G2 Cells

“…DC. (AL), an important medicinal herb in China, has a long history in therapy of several diseases, such as removing wind and darnpness, promoting eyesight (Liu et al, 2012;Peng et al, 2012). Recent studies suggest that AL possesses anti-cancer property in a wide range of cancer such as hepatocarcinoma and gastric in vivo and vitro (Mahavorasirikul et al, 2010;.…”