Combining DNA Barcoding and Chemical fingerprints to authenticate Lavender raw material.

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Cosmetic ingredient suppliers and brands require reliable plant species identification.
• Traditional methods for botanical authentication may lack sufficient accuracy and robustness.
• The Lavandula genus is of significant interest in the cosmetics industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of coupling chemical and genetic analyses for plant species identification.
• To demonstrate the robustness of combined analytical methods in identifying species within the Lavandula genus.
• To establish a reliable authentication tool for cosmetic plant ingredients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) for chemical analysis.
• Employed DNA barcoding with specific genetic markers for genetic analysis.
• Analyzed eleven botanically authenticated lavender species.

Main Results:

• Identified three key chemical compounds (coumaric acid hexoside, ferulic acid hexoside, rosmarinic acid) for differentiation.
• Selected three genetic markers (RbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS) effective for species discrimination.
• Demonstrated successful differentiation of eleven lavender species using the combined approach.

Conclusions:

• The combination of UHPLC and DNA barcoding provides a robust system for botanical identification of lavender species.
• This integrated approach offers enhanced reliability for authentication compared to traditional methods.
• The study highlights the need for advanced tools combining genetic and chemical analysis in the cosmetics industry.