Isolation of DNA from medicinal plants

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was carried out during summer session of 2012-13 at Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, MGM College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Aurangabad, to study the isolation of DNA from medicinal plants without using liquid nitrogen. Five Different medicinal plants were used for isolation of DNA. The Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane based extraction buffer with different concentrations of PVP was found effective in isolation of DNA for various molecular biology applications. DNA quality was determined by the ratio of absorbance at 260 nm and 280 nm. It was found that the isolated DNA showed ratio in between 1.4 to 1.8. Thus present protocol can be used for isolation of DNA from medicinal plants (Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and Sandalwood (Santalum album) for various molecular biology applications. The highest purified DNA was used for restriction digestion and PCR studies. It was confirmed that the extracted DNA was suitable for PCR and Restriction digestion.