MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF LOCALLY USED ANTIMALARIAL PLANTS FOUND IN KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY BASED ON RBCL GENE SEQUENCES

Abstract

This study investigated the molecular phylogeny and phytochemical composition of fourteen locally used antimalarial plants found within Kaduna State University, Kaduna, using rbcL gene sequences. The aim was to elucidate their genetic relationships and identify bioactive secondary metabolites that may underlie their therapeutic potential. Fresh leaves of each plant were collected, air-dried, and subjected to aqueous extraction for qualitative phytochemical screening, while genomic DNA was extracted and amplified using the rbcL primer through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified products were visualized on agarose gel electrophoresis, sequenced, and analyzed using BLAST and MEGA 11 software to construct phylogenetic relationships. Results showed that all plants contained at least four classes of secondary metabolites, with Azadirachta indica, Artemisia annua, Cassia occidentalis, Carica papaya, Magnifera indica, and Senna siamese exhibiting the richest phytochemical profiles, containing flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and alkaloids. The PCR amplification produced distinct bands of approximately 700 bp, confirming successful amplification of the rbcL gene. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the species into four major clades consistent with their taxonomic families, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Caricaceae, demonstrating close evolutionary relationships among related taxa. The study concludes that integrating molecular phylogeny with phytochemical screening provides valuable insights into the genetic diversity and therapeutic potential of medicinal plants, which can be candidates for further antimalarial drug discovery.