Convenient, sensitive and high-throughput method for screening botanic origin

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Molecular Biology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate identification of botanic origin is crucial for traditional medicines.
• Similar morphology and chemical composition of certain herbs pose identification challenges.
• Existing methods may lack speed, sensitivity, or high-throughput capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, sensitive, and visible method for assessing botanic origin.
• To differentiate between closely related Chinese medicinal materials like Jin-Yin-Hua and Shan-Yin-Hua.
• To validate the method for identifying plant species in patented Chinese drugs.

Main Methods:

• Combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with cationic conjugated polymers.
• Gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays for species discrimination.
• Application of the developed detection system for quality control.

Main Results:

• A rapid (4-5 hour) and sensitive method for botanic origin assessment was established.
• Successful differentiation of Jin-Yin-Hua and Shan-Yin-Hua based on gene SNP genotyping.
• Effective identification of Lonicera species in patented Chinese drugs was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The new method provides a robust and visible approach for botanic origin identification.
• It is suitable for high-throughput screening, enhancing herbal material authentication.
• This technique is beneficial for ensuring the safety and quality of botanic products.