plantid – dna-based identification of multiple medicinal plants in complex mixturesplantid - dna识别多种药用植物在复杂的混合物.pdfVIP

Howard et al. Chinese Medicine 2012, 7:18 /content/7/1/18 RESEARCH Open Access PlantID – DNA-based identification of multiple medicinal plants in complex mixtures 1 2 1 3 1 1 Caroline Howard , Eleni Socratous , Sarah Williams , Eleanor Graham , Mark R Fowler , Nigel W Scott , Paul D Bremner1 and Adrian Slater1* Abstract Background: An efficient method for the identification of medicinal plant products is now a priority as the global demand increases. This study aims to develop a DNA-based method for the identification and authentication of plant species that can be implemented in the industry to aid compliance with regulations, based upon the economically important Hypericum perforatum L. (St John’s Wort or Guan ye Lian Qiao). Methods: The ITS regions of several Hypericum species were analysed to identify the most divergent regions and PCR primers were designed to anneal specifically to these regions in the different Hypericum species. Candidate primers were selected such that the amplicon produced by each species-specific reaction differed in size. The use of fluorescently labelled primers enabled these products to be resolved by capillary electrophoresis. Results: Four closely related Hypericum species were detected simultaneously and independently in one reaction. Each species could be identified individually and in any combination. The introduction of three more closely related species to the test had no effect on the results. Highly processed commercial plant material was identified, despite the potential complications of DNA degradation in such samples. Conclusion: This technique can detect the presence of an expected plant material and adulterant materials in one reaction. The method