Assessment of Genetic Diversity of <i>Kaempferia</i> Species across Varied Indian Ecologies through rbcL and ITS Molecular Markers

The genus Kaempferia, known for its significant medicinal and cultural value, is an essential part of India’s tropical flora. These plants exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties, attributed to their rich phytochemical composition, including flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oils. The present study provides a detailed genetic diversity analysis of ten Kaempferia species accessions, collected from diverse ecological regions across India, using rbcL and ITS molecular markers. Ten accessions of four Kaempferia sp. were collected from Assam, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal in India. Through rigorous molecular analysis, this research aims to reveal the genetic relationships and variations among these species, shedding light on their evolutionary adaptations and potential pharmacological uses. The study focused on the rbcL and ITS loci sequences, revealing significant interspecific variability within the genus. The ITS region showed more length variation and higher GC content than rbcL, allowing it to detect finer differences within species that often matched their geographic origin. Together, the two markers provide the first location-linked genetic baseline for Indian Kaempferia, which can be used for germplasm authentication, conservation efforts, and identification of chemotypes with better medicinal value.