Authentication for Cyathula officinalis via Comparative Analysis of Five Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences

Cyathula officinalis is a medicinal and edible herb, which can be used for removing blood stasis, restoring menstrual flow and easing joint movement. In this study, the chloroplast genome of Cyathula officinalis was sequenced, assembled, and analyzed. Compared with the chloroplast genome Cyathula capitata, Achyranthes bidentata, Achyranthes longifolianine and Achyranthes aspera, the basic characteristics, codon usage bias, repeat sequences and simple sequence repeat and phylogenetic tree were further analyzed. In addition, according to nucleotide diversity analysis and sequence alignment, DNA barcoding and allele-specific PCR primers was designed to identify and distinguish Cyathula officinalis from its fake drugs, which has effectively practical significance for the authentication of Chuan Niuxi crude drugs in the market.