DNA extraction from therapeutic herbs

Abstract

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MGM College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Aurangabad, conducted a lab experiment in the summer of 2012–13 to investigate the separation of DNA from medicinal plants without the use of liquid nitrogen. DNA was isolated using five different medicinal herbs. DNA was successfully isolated for a variety of molecular biology applications using an extraction buffer based on Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane and varying PVP concentrations. The ratio of absorbance at 260 and 280 nm was used to assess the purity of DNA. The isolated DNA was found to have a ratio between 1.4 and 1.8. Therefore, for a variety of molecular biology applications, the current procedure may be utilized to isolate DNA from medicinal plants such as Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), and Sandalwood (Santalum album). For restriction digestion and PCR analyses, the purest DNA was used. The isolated DNA's suitability for restriction digestion and PCR was verified.