DNA Barcode for Identifying Folium Artemisiae Argyi from Counterfeits

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Pharmacognosy
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Folium Artemisiae Argyi is vital in traditional Chinese medicine but difficult to identify due to morphological similarities with related species and counterfeits.
• Accurate identification is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of Artemisia argyi in medicinal applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of DNA barcoding using ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions for the accurate identification of Artemisia argyi.
• To compare the discriminatory power of ITS2, psbA-trnH, and their combination for distinguishing A. argyi from closely related species and adulterants.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction from 15 closely related species and counterfeits of Artemisia argyi.
• Amplification and sequencing of the ITS2 and psbA-trnH DNA regions.
• Analysis of sequence data using genetic distance calculations and phylogenetic tree construction (Neighbor Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood).

Main Results:

• Both ITS2 and psbA-trnH fragments were successfully amplified, with ITS2 proving more effective for identification.
• The ITS2 region exhibited no intraspecific variation in A. argyi (Kimura 2-Parameter distance = 0), while single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were observed in related species.
• Phylogenetic analyses using ITS2 successfully separated A. argyi from most closely related species and counterfeits, forming distinct clusters.

Conclusions:

• The ITS2 DNA barcode is a highly effective and reliable marker for the accurate identification of Artemisia argyi.
• DNA barcoding, particularly using the ITS2 region, provides a robust method to differentiate A. argyi from morphologically similar species and counterfeits.
• This method ensures the quality control and safe utilization of Artemisia argyi in traditional medicine and commerce.