DHANENDRA KUMAR RAI, ASHWANI KUMAR*, MOHD. ASIF SIDDIQUI, RAVINDRA KUMAR JAIN, ANU CHAUHAN, NIKHIL CHAND, RITIKA YADAV AND SARITA RANA
Department of Biotechnology, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Subhartipuram, N-58, Delhi-Haridwar Bypass Road, Meerut-250 005 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail: ashipbtech81@gmail.com; Mobile: 74170 76417)
(Received: May 25, 2025; Accepted: July 27, 2025)
ABSTRACT
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem samples were collected from six ecologically distinct regions of North India and analyzed for genetic diversity using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers, alongside phytochemical profiling of ethanolic extracts. Of the 10 decamer primers screened, four (OPA02, OPA03, OPB07 and OPB17) produced distinct and reproducible amplification patterns, generating a total of 95 bands, of which 85 were polymorphic and 10 monomorphic. The band size ranged from 0.2 to 2.4 kb. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA grouped the six populations into two major genetic clusters, revealing a high similarity index (up to 92%) among geographically proximal populations such as Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar and Dehradun, and comparatively lower similarity with the Kumaun, Pantnagar and Nainital populations. Phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract showed the presence of major secondary metabolites including flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, glycosides, saponins, triterpenoids, amino acids and steroids, with ethanol yielding the highest extractive value (12.51% w/w). These results not only demonstrate significant intraspecific genetic variability in Cuscuta reflexa but also validate the rich phytochemical composition of its ethanolic extract, supporting its pharmacological potential.
Key words: Cuscuta reflexa, RAPD analysis, genetic diversity, population structure, molecular markers, cluster analysis