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Development and validation of a probe-based qPCR method to prevent parsley leaf material misidentification
Zheng Quan1, Zhengxiu Yang2, Tiffany Chua3
1Herbalife International of America, Inc., Corporate Quality Laboratory, 950 W 190th Street, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.
Fitoterapia
|June 14, 2020
Summary
Authentic parsley (Petroselinum crispum) leaf can be verified using DNA sequencing. A new multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay accurately detects even 1% celery substitution in parsley products.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Food Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a popular herb valued for its health benefits.
- Celery leaf shares similar physical and chemical characteristics with parsley, making it a potential adulterant in commercial products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a reliable method for distinguishing parsley from celery leaf.
- To ensure the authenticity of parsley in commercial trade through accurate identification.
Main Methods:
- Physical, chemical, and DNA-based characterization of parsley and celery leaves at the cultivar level.
- Development and validation of a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for simultaneous identification.
Main Results:
- DNA sequence differences between parsley and celery proved consistent and reliable for authenticity verification.
- The developed multiplex qPCR assay demonstrated high efficiency and specificity.
- The assay successfully detected as little as 1% (w/w) celery in parsley with a detection probability over 0.9.
Conclusions:
- DNA analysis, particularly the developed multiplex qPCR assay, is a robust method for verifying parsley material authenticity.
- This assay is suitable for routine quality control to prevent misidentification of parsley in commerce.
