A simple and rapid protocol for preparation of crude drug DNA suitable for PCR

A protocol for rapid purification of DNA from a variety of herbal crude drugs, starting from samples as small as 1 mg, has been developed. Neither phenol extraction nor alcohol precipitation is involved in the procedure. Total nucleic acids are first extracted with the lysis buffer containing SDS. After CHCl3 extraction, DNA is bound to glass fiber fleece in the presence of guanidine thiocyanate, while unbound impurities are washed away. The entire procedure can be carried out in 1.5-ml microtubes. The purified DNA obtained serves as a template for PCR.