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Ibrahim M, Detroja A, Sheth BP, Bhadja P, Sanghvi G, Bishoyi AK. Existing status and future advancements of adulteration detection techniques in herbal products. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:151. [PMID: 38236339 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09122-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herbal products have been commonly used all over the world for centuries. Its products have gained remarkable acceptance as therapeutic agents for a variety of disorders. However, following recent research disclosing discrepancies between labeling and actual components of herbal products, there is growing concern about the efficacy, quality and safety of the products. The admixture and adulteration of herbal medicinal products pose a risk of serious health compromise and the well-being of the consumers. To prevent adulteration in raw ingredients and final herbal products, it is necessary to use approaches to assess both genomes as well as metabolomics of the products; this offers quality assurance in terms of product identification and purity. The combinations of molecular and analytical methods are inevitable for thorough verification and quality control of herbal medicine. METHODS AND RESULTS This review discusses the combination of DNA barcoding, DNA metabarcoding, mass spectroscopy as well as HPLC for the authentication of herbal medicine and determination of the level of adulteration. It also discusses the roles of PCR and real-time PCR techniques in validating and ensuring the quality, purity and identity of the herbal products. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, each technique has its own pros and cons, but the cumulative of both the chemical and molecular methods is proven to be the best strategy for adulteration detection. Moreover, CRISPR diagnosis tools equipped with multiplexing techniques may be implemented for screening adulteration from herbal drugs, this will play a crucial role in herbal product authentication in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munir Ibrahim
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India
| | - Asmita Detroja
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India
| | - Bhavisha P Sheth
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India
| | - Poonam Bhadja
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India
| | - Gaurav Sanghvi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Bishoyi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360003, India.
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Shah AP, Travadi T, Sharma S, Pandit R, Joshi C, Joshi M. Comprehensive analysis using DNA metabarcoding, SCAR marker based PCR assay, and HPLC unveils the adulteration in Brahmi herbal products. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:7605-7618. [PMID: 37532919 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08653-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brahmi is one of the important nootropic botanicals, widely sold in the market, with the name "Brahmi'' being used to describe both Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica species. The Brahmi herbal products market is expanding; hence, economically motivated adulteration is highly prevalent. METHODS AND RESULTS This study aimed to develop DNA-based methods, including SCAR marker-based PCR and metabarcoding, to authenticate Brahmi herbal products and compare these methods with HPLC. These methods have been validated using mock controls (in-house blended formulations). All targeted plant species in mock controls were detected successfully with all three methods, whereas, in market samples, only 22.2%, 55.6%, and 50.0% were found positive for Brahmi by PCR assay, DNA metabarcoding, and HPLC, respectively. Metabarcoding can detect the presence of non-labeled plants together with targeted species, which is an advantage over PCR assay or HPLC. CONCLUSION SCAR marker-based PCR is a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting the presence of B. monnieri and C. asiatica. However, in this study, the success rate of PCR amplification was relatively low because the primers targeted either RAPD or ITS-based SCAR markers. HPLC assay, although an alternative, was unable to detect the presence of other botanicals, just like the SCAR marker-based PCR assay. On the other hand, metabarcoding can be utilized to identify the target plants, even in very small quantities, while also providing simulated identification of other botanicals. This study successfully addressed the need for quality control of Brahmi herbal products and provided the first-time report of DNA metabarcoding for such products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhi P Shah
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Tasnim Travadi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Sonal Sharma
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Ramesh Pandit
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Chaitanya Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India
| | - Madhvi Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, India.
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Travadi T, Shah AP, Pandit R, Sharma S, Joshi C, Joshi M. A combined approach of DNA metabarcoding collectively enhances the detection efficiency of medicinal plants in single and polyherbal formulations. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1169984. [PMID: 37255553 PMCID: PMC10225634 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1169984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Empirical research has refined traditional herbal medicinal systems. The traditional market is expanding globally, but inadequate regulatory guidelines, taxonomic knowledge, and resources are causing herbal product adulteration. With the widespread adoption of barcoding and next-generation sequencing, metabarcoding is emerging as a potential tool for detecting labeled and unlabeled plant species in herbal products. Methods This study validated newly designed rbcL and ITS2 metabarcode primers for metabarcoding using in-house mock controls of medicinal plant gDNA pools and biomass pools. The applicability of the multi-barcode sequencing approach was evaluated on 17 single drugs and 15 polyherbal formulations procured from the Indian market. Results The rbcL metabarcode demonstrated 86.7% and 71.7% detection efficiencies in gDNA plant pools and biomass mock controls, respectively, while the ITS2 metabarcode demonstrated 82.2% and 69.4%. In the gDNA plant pool and biomass pool mock controls, the cumulative detection efficiency increased by 100% and 90%, respectively. A 79% cumulative detection efficiency of both metabarcodes was observed in single drugs, while 76.3% was observed in polyherbal formulations. An average fidelity of 83.6% was observed for targeted plant species present within mock controls and in herbal formulations. Discussion In the present study, we achieved increasing cumulative detection efficiency by combining the high universality of the rbcL locus with the high-resolution power of the ITS2 locus in medicinal plants, which shows applicability of multilocus strategies in metabarcoding as a potential tool for the Pharmacovigilance of labeled and unlabeled plant species in herbal formulations.
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Species identification of culinary spices with two-locus DNA barcoding. Food Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.109742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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Lutoti S, Kaggwa B, Kamba PF, Mukonzo J, Sesaazi CD, Katuura E. Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Breast Cancer Treatment by Traditional Health Practitioners in Central Uganda. J Multidiscip Healthc 2023; 16:635-651. [PMID: 36919184 PMCID: PMC10008314 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s387256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The study aimed to document the existing knowledge and practices related to breast cancer recognition and treatment using medicinal plants by traditional health practitioners in Central Uganda. Methods This cross-sectional exploratory survey, conducted between February and August 2020, applied a mixed methods research approach. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 119 traditional health practitioners (THPs) in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono. Content analysis of qualitative data was done. Quantitative ethnobotanical survey indices, namely user reports (Nur), percentage of respondents with knowledge (PRK), informant consensus factor (Fic), fidelity level (FL), preference ranks (PR) and direct matrix ranking (DMR) were determined. Results Most THPs recognized breast cancer by breast swelling (n=74, 62.2%) and breast pain (n=29, 24.4%). They cited 30 plants from 30 genera in 23 families (Fic 0.75 on breast cancer). Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Rutaceae were the predominant families. The ten most cited plants were Annona muricata L. (Nur=24), Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm (Nur =19), Erythrococca bongensis Pax (Nur=11), Ficus sp. (Nur=10), Cannabis sativa L. (Nur=8), Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy (Nur=7), Erythrina abyssinica DC. (Nur=5), Leucas martinicensis (Jacq.) R.Br. (Nur=4), Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Nur=4) and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. (Nur=3). Annona muricata L. was highly preferred by THPs (PR 1), Ficus sp. had highest fidelity level (FL=77%) and Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. ranked as the highest multipurpose plant (DMR 1). Herbs (n=14, 47%) were the most commonly used life forms besides trees (n=11, 37%) and shrubs (n=5, 16%). THPs mostly used leaves (46%), prepared decoctions (82%) and applied residues on the breast. Conclusion THPs in Central Uganda recognized breast cancer by symptoms. Medicinal plants applied in its folk treatment have been documented and the claims of cure by THPs merit further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Lutoti
- Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Bruhan Kaggwa
- Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Jackson Mukonzo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Crispin Duncan Sesaazi
- Pharmbiotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Esther Katuura
- Department of Plant Sciences, Biotechnology and Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Dubois B, Debode F, Hautier L, Hulin J, Martin GS, Delvaux A, Janssen E, Mingeot D. A detailed workflow to develop QIIME2-formatted reference databases for taxonomic analysis of DNA metabarcoding data. BMC Genom Data 2022; 23:53. [PMID: 35804326 PMCID: PMC9264521 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-022-01067-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The DNA metabarcoding approach has become one of the most used techniques to study the taxa composition of various sample types. To deal with the high amount of data generated by the high-throughput sequencing process, a bioinformatics workflow is required and the QIIME2 platform has emerged as one of the most reliable and commonly used. However, only some pre-formatted reference databases dedicated to a few barcode sequences are available to assign taxonomy. If users want to develop a new custom reference database, several bottlenecks still need to be addressed and a detailed procedure explaining how to develop and format such a database is currently missing. In consequence, this work is aimed at presenting a detailed workflow explaining from start to finish how to develop such a curated reference database for any barcode sequence. Results We developed DB4Q2, a detailed workflow that allowed development of plant reference databases dedicated to ITS2 and rbcL, two commonly used barcode sequences in plant metabarcoding studies. This workflow addresses several of the main bottlenecks connected with the development of a curated reference database. The detailed and commented structure of DB4Q2 offers the possibility of developing reference databases even without extensive bioinformatics skills, and avoids ‘black box’ systems that are sometimes encountered. Some filtering steps have been included to discard presumably fungal and misidentified sequences. The flexible character of DB4Q2 allows several key sequence processing steps to be included or not, and downloading issues can be avoided. Benchmarking the databases developed using DB4Q2 revealed that they performed well compared to previously published reference datasets. Conclusion This study presents DB4Q2, a detailed procedure to develop custom reference databases in order to carry out taxonomic analyses with QIIME2, but also with other bioinformatics platforms if desired. This work also provides ready-to-use plant ITS2 and rbcL databases for which the prediction accuracy has been assessed and compared to that of other published databases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-022-01067-5.
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Mahima K, Sunil Kumar KN, Rakhesh KV, Rajeswaran PS, Sharma A, Sathishkumar R. Advancements and future prospective of DNA barcodes in the herbal drug industry. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:947512. [PMID: 36339543 PMCID: PMC9635000 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.947512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The past couple of decades have witnessed the global resurgence of medicinal plants in the field of herbal-based health care. Increased consumption of medicinal plants and their derivative products is the major cause of the adulteration issues in herbal industries. As a result, the quality of herbal products is affected by spurious and unauthorized raw materials. Recent development in molecular plant identification using DNA barcodes has become a robust methodology to identify and authenticate the adulterants in herbal samples. Hence, rapid and accurate identification of medicinal plants is the key to success for the herbal industry. Aim of the study: This paper provides a comprehensive review of the application of DNA barcoding and advanced technologies that have emerged over the past 10 years related to medicinal plant identification and authentication and the future prospects of this technology. Materials and methods: Information on DNA barcodes was compiled from scientific databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, SciFinder and PubMed). Additional information was obtained from books, Ph.D. thesis and MSc. Dissertations. Results: Working out an appropriate DNA barcode for plants is challenging; the single locus-based DNA barcodes (rbcL, ITS, ITS2, matK, rpoB, rpoC, trnH-psbA) to multi-locus DNA barcodes have become the successful species-level identification among herbal plants. Additionally, multi-loci have become efficient in the authentication of herbal products. Emerging advances in DNA barcoding and related technologies such as next-generation sequencing, high-resolution melting curve analysis, meta barcodes and mini barcodes have paved the way for successful herbal plant/samples identification. Conclusion: DNA barcoding needs to be employed together with other techniques to check and rationally and effectively quality control the herbal drugs. It is suggested that DNA barcoding techniques combined with metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics could authenticate the herbal products. The invention of simple, cost-effective and improved DNA barcoding techniques to identify herbal drugs and their associated products of medicinal value in a fool-proof manner will be the future thrust of Pharmacopoeial monograph development for herbal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan Mahima
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Siddha Central Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | | | | | - Ashutosh Sharma
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centre of Bioengineering, Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Ramalingam Sathishkumar
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Senachai P, Julsrigival J, Sann R. Social Marketing Strategy to Promote Traditional Thai Medicines during COVID-19: KAP and DoI Two-Step Theory Application Process. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148416. [PMID: 35886268 PMCID: PMC9319106 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Recently, the Thai government has been promoting the innovation of finished forms of traditional Thai medicine (TTM) products (e.g., tablets and capsules). According to the existing literature, most consumers are unaware of the finished forms of TTMs because of conflicting knowledge, information, and communication. Therefore, the consumers have poor perceptions about TTMs and their benefits. Purpose: This qualitative study explores the current perceptions about TTMs and the modes of promotion that are being utilized to develop a strategic communication plan for the finished forms of TTMs. Design/methodology/approach: Utilising thematic analysis, focus groups were conducted with thirty experienced consumers. Findings: Using KAP and DoI theory, the following three themes emerged in this study: (i) the current KAP of Thai consumers toward the finished forms of TTM; (ii) factors influencing the use of finished forms of TTM; and (iii) integrated marketing communication as a promotion strategy to rapidly disseminate knowledge. Research limitations/implications: Given Thailand's large population, the findings of this study are substantially limited and cannot be generalized. Therefore, the findings herein may not reflect the experiences and opinions of the Thai consumers residing in other regions or the opinions of the entire country. Originality/value: This study utilises interdisciplinary methods and two-step theory application to explain the current knowledge and perceptions about the finished forms of TTM and develop proper communication and media strategies that can promote the finished forms of traditional Thai medicines, helping to widen their usage significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prarawan Senachai
- Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand;
| | - Jakaphun Julsrigival
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Raksmey Sann
- Department of Tourism Innovation Management, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand
- Correspondence:
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Urumarudappa SKJ, Tungphatthong C, Jaipaew J, Pornputtapong N, Pakdeesattayapong D, Vimolmangkang S, Sukrong S. Development of a DNA barcode library of plants in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Monographs for authentication of herbal products. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9624. [PMID: 35688884 PMCID: PMC9187672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13287-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional herbal medicine has long been practiced as a method of health care in many countries worldwide. The usage of herbal products has been increasing and is expected to continue to do so in the future. However, admixture and adulteration are concerns regarding the quality of herbal medicine, including its safety and efficacy. We aimed to develop a reference DNA barcode library of plants listed in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia (THP) and Monographs of Selected Thai Materia Medica (TMM) (n = 101 plant species) using four core barcode regions, namely, the ITS2, matK, rbcL and trnH-psbA intergenic spacer regions, for authentication of the plant origin of raw materials and herbal products. Checking sequences from samples obtained from local markets and the Thai Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) against our digital reference DNA barcode system revealed the authenticity of eighteen out of twenty tested samples as claimed on their labels. Two samples, no. 3 and 13, were not Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob. and Pueraria candollei Wall. ex Benth. as claimed, respectively. They were recognized as Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. and Butea superba (Roxb.), respectively. Hence, it is important for the Thai FDA or regulatory agencies to immediately initiate strict enforcement for the development of pharmacopoeial standards as well as revisions or modifications of available regulatory guidelines and to implement close monitoring for the quality control of herbal products in terms of authentication before they enter the herbal market. The centralized digital reference DNA barcode database developed here could play a very important role in monitoring or checking the authenticity of medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santhosh Kumar J Urumarudappa
- Center of Excellence in DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.,Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Chayapol Tungphatthong
- Center of Excellence in DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Jirayut Jaipaew
- Center of Excellence in DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Natapol Pornputtapong
- Center of Excellence in DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.,Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | | | - Sornkanok Vimolmangkang
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Suchada Sukrong
- Center of Excellence in DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. .,Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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DNA Barcodes for Accurate Identification of Selected Medicinal Plants (Caryophyllales): Toward Barcoding Flowering Plants of the United Arab Emirates. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14040262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The need for herbal medicinal plants is steadily increasing. Hence, the accurate identification of plant material has become vital for safe usage, avoiding adulteration, and medicinal plant trading. DNA barcoding has shown to be a valuable molecular identification tool for medicinal plants, ensuring the safety and efficacy of plant materials of therapeutic significance. Using morphological characters in genera with closely related species, species delimitation is often difficult. Here, we evaluated the capability of the nuclear barcode ITS2 and plastid DNA barcodes rbcL and matK to identify 20 medicinally important plant species of Caryophyllales. In our analysis, we applied an integrative approach for species discrimination using pairwise distance-based unsupervised operational taxonomic unit “OTU picking” methods, viz., ABGD (Automated Barcode Gap Analysis) and ASAP (Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning). Along with the unsupervised OTU picking methods, Supervised Machine Learning methods (SML) were also implemented to recognize divergent taxa. Our results indicated that ITS2 was more successful in distinguishing between examined species, implying that it could be used to detect the contamination and adulteration of these medicinally important plants. Moreover, this study suggests that the combination of more than one method could assist in the resolution of morphologically similar or closely related taxa.
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Muyumba N, Mutombo S, Sheridan H, Nachtergael A, Duez P. Quality control of herbal drugs and preparations: The methods of analysis, their relevance and applications. TALANTA OPEN 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talo.2021.100070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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12
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Forensic botany: time to embrace natural history collections, large scale environmental data and environmental DNA. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 5:475-485. [PMID: 33871012 DOI: 10.1042/etls20200329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Forensic botany is a diverse discipline that spans many aspects of plant sciences, particularly taxonomy, field botany, anatomy, and ecology. Internationally, there is a significant opportunity to expand the application of forensic botany in criminal investigations, especially war crimes, genocide, homicide, sexual violence, serious physical assault, illegal trade in endangered species and wildlife crime. In civil proceedings, forensic botany may, for example, be called upon in trade disputes such as accidental contamination of commodities. Despite the potential, there are barriers to the wider application of forensic botany in criminal cases; there is a widespread need to improve the efficiency of botanical trace evidence identification. This could partly be addressed by embracing innovations in image recognition and by accessing the huge quantity of specimens and images housed in natural history collections worldwide. Additionally, the recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies and the expansion of environmental DNA (eDNA) and forensic ecogenomics, offers opportunities to more rapidly provide species-level identifications. The impact of taphonomic processes upon vegetation, and vice versa, remains poorly understood; improved understanding of these interactions and their ecological impacts may be invaluable in improving clandestine burial search protocols.
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Tungphatthong C, Urumarudappa SKJ, Awachai S, Sooksawate T, Sukrong S. Differentiation of Mitragyna speciosa, a narcotic plant, from allied Mitragyna species using DNA barcoding-high-resolution melting (Bar-HRM) analysis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6738. [PMID: 33762644 PMCID: PMC7990970 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86228-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil. [MS], or “kratom” in Thai, is the only narcotic species among the four species of Mitragyna in Thailand, which also include Mitragyna diversifolia (Wall. ex G. Don) Havil. [MD], Mitragyna hirsuta Havil. [MH], and Mitragyna rotundifolia (Roxb.) O. Kuntze [MR]. M. speciosa is a tropical tree belonging to the Rubiaceae family and has been prohibited by law in Thailand. However, it has been extensively covered in national and international news, as its abuse has become more popular. M. speciosa is a narcotic plant and has been used as an opium substitute and traditionally used for the treatment of chronic pain and various illnesses. Due to morphological disparities in the genus, the identification of plants in various forms, including fresh leaves, dried leaf powder, and finished products, is difficult. In this study, DNA barcoding combined with high-resolution melting (Bar-HRM) analysis was performed to differentiate M. speciosa from allied Mitragyna and to assess the capability of Bar-HRM assays to identify M. speciosa in suspected kratom or M. speciosa-containing samples. Bar-HRM analysis of PCR amplicons was based on the ITS2, rbcL, trnH-psbA, and matK DNA barcode regions. The melting profiles of ITS2 amplicons were clearly distinct, which enabled the authentication and differentiation of Mitragyna species from allied species. This study reveals that DNA barcoding coupled with HRM is an efficient tool with which to identify M. speciosa and M. speciosa-containing samples and ensure the safety and quality of traditional Thai herbal medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayapol Tungphatthong
- Research Unit of DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Santhosh Kumar J Urumarudappa
- Research Unit of DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Supita Awachai
- Research Unit of DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Thongchai Sooksawate
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Suchada Sukrong
- Research Unit of DNA Barcoding of Thai Medicinal Plants, Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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Imran Y, Wijekoon N, Gonawala L, Chiang YC, De Silva KRD. Biopiracy: Abolish Corporate Hijacking of Indigenous Medicinal Entities. ScientificWorldJournal 2021; 2021:8898842. [PMID: 33679261 PMCID: PMC7910072 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8898842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biopiracy as "a silent disease" is hardly detectable because it does not leave traces frequently. The corporate hijacking of food is the most important health hazard in this era; giant commercial enterprises are using intellectual property rights to patent indigenous medicinal plants, seeds, genetic resources, and traditional medicines. The new era of biotechnology relies on the genes of living organisms as raw materials. The "Gene Rush" has thus become similar to that of the old "Gold Rush." Sri Lanka has been spotted in the top 34 biodiversity hotspots globally. Moreover, localized in the tropics, human generations in Sri Lanka have utilized the array of plant species for herbal treatments and treatment of diseases. Sri Lanka after its 30-year civil war is moving towards a solid growth and conservation of the environment which is a major component in a sustainable development where the conservation of biodiversity plays a significant role. In this paper, we present an overview of typical cases of global biopiracy, bioprospecting via introduction of cost-effective deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting and international protocol with Private-Public-People Partnership concept as excellent forms of utilization of natural resources. We propose certain perspectives as scientists towards abolishing biopiracy and also to foster the fair utilization of natural resources; since the economy of most developing countries is agriculture based, the gross domestic product of the developing countries could be increased by enhanced bioprospecting via introduction of cost-effective DNA fingerprinting technologies and thus not being a pray of corporate hijacking."Biopiracy is biological theft; illegal collection of indigenous plants by corporations who patent them for their own use" (Vandana Shiva).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonus Imran
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovation in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Nalaka Wijekoon
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovation in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Lakmal Gonawala
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovation in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Yu-Chung Chiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - K. Ranil D. De Silva
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovation in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
- Institute for Combinatorial Advanced Research & Education (KDU-CARE), General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rathmalana, Sri Lanka
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Palhares RM, Baratto LC, Scopel M, Mügge FLB, Brandão MGL. Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products From Brazil: How Can We Improve Quality? Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:606623. [PMID: 33584281 PMCID: PMC7873041 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.606623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael M Palhares
- Centro Especializado em Plantas Aromáticas, Medicinais e Tóxicas (CEPLAMT), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Leopoldo C Baratto
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia Aplicada, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Scopel
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fernanda L B Mügge
- Centro Especializado em Plantas Aromáticas, Medicinais e Tóxicas (CEPLAMT), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria G L Brandão
- Centro Especializado em Plantas Aromáticas, Medicinais e Tóxicas (CEPLAMT), Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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