Identification and authentication of Agnimantha plant species used in Ayurveda on the basis of anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analysis

Agnimantha plant species have been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for many years and is widely used as an ingredient in many ayurvedic formulations. However, the source for Agnimantha remained controversial as it is difficult to authenticate from various reports. Hence, the present study aims to identify and authenticate its original and substitute sources. As per the literature sources Clerodendrum phlomidis L.f., C. inerme (L.) Gaertn. and Premna serratifolia L. are considered Agnimantha species. The anatomy of the above mentioned species confirmed the presence of patches of up to 20 cells in the sclerenchyma of the root cortex, while in the absence of sclerenchyma of the stem cortex, abundant chambered crystals were also present in the bark of the stem and root in C. phlomidis as compared to C. inerme and P. serratifolia. Phylogenetic analysis using chloroplast (matK, trnH-psbA) and nuclear markers (ITS, rbcl) also indicates the close relation between C. inerme and P. serratifolia and hence places them both in the same clade, though C. phlomidis is closely related to the other species but placed in the adjacent clade. Hence, the study concludes that anatomical as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis reflect close relation between C. inerme and P. serratifolia. while a distant relation with C. phlomidis.