Planta Med 2010; 76 - P011
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264309

Rapid molecular authentication of the medicinal plant Taraxacum mongolium from its adulterants by ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-primed polymerase chain reaction

J Chao 1, M Chen 5, H Chen 2, M Lin 5, W Chang 5, K Chen 3, M Lee 4, M Lee 5
  • 1National Defence Medical Center, No.161, Section 6, Min-Chuan East Road, Taipei 114, Taiwan, 114 Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2Mingchi University of Technology, Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, 84 Gungjuan Rd., Taishan, Taipei 24301, Taiwan, 24301 Taipei, Taiwan
  • 3China Medical University Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC, 404 Taichung, Taiwan
  • 4Tungs Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Department of Medical Research, No.699, Sec.1, Chungchi Rd., Wuchi Township, Taichung County 435, Taiwan, 435 Taichung, Taiwan
  • 5China Medical University, School of Chinese Medicine Resources, 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC Taichung, Taiwan

Taraxacum mongolium (TM) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that used as an important component in healthy drink in Taiwan. Due to its similarity on morphological features between TM and Taraxacum officinale, Ixeridium laevigatum, Youngia japonica, Ixeris chinensis, Emilia sonchifolia var. javanica, is very common misused and becomes its adulterant of Taracum mongolium. In this study, the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) served as DNA barcode and allele-specific sequence-primed polymerase chain reaction were exploited for their application in the differentiation of TM from its related adulterants. Using extracted genomic DNA from TM and others Taraxacum plants leaves as template, the PCR reaction was performed with a set of specifically designed primers. The results showed that highly specific 250 bp PCR product of TM was successfully amplified; however, not any fragment was amplified from other Taraxacum plants and species. This indicated that our specific primers can be used to discriminate TM form other Taraxacum species. Applying this method to detect DNA barcode, it might be an alternative way to rapidly authenticate plants used in TCM and to develop a specific TM „identification kit“ in the future.

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