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Decoding herbal materials of TCM preparations with the multi-barcode sequencing approach
Qi Yao1, Xue Zhu1, Maozhen Han1
1Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-Imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China.
This study validates a multi-barcode sequencing method for identifying ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparations. The approach proved sensitive and reliable for analyzing diverse TCM formulations, advancing drug quality control.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- High-throughput sequencing technologies enable advanced analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ingredients.
- Previous studies demonstrated multi-barcode sequencing for TCM ingredient identification, but its broad applicability, sensitivity, and reliability were unconfirmed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the universality, sensitivity, and reliability of the multi-barcode sequencing approach on diverse TCM preparations.
- To evaluate the efficacy of ITS2 and trnL biomarkers in identifying prescribed herbal materials (PHMs) within TCM formulations.
Main Methods:
- Selected four representative TCM preparations: Bazhen Yimu Wan, Da Huoluo Wan, Niuhuang Jiangya Wan, and You Gui Wan.
- Employed a multi-barcode sequencing approach using ITS2 and trnL DNA biomarkers.
- Analyzed the accuracy and reliability of the sequencing method in detecting known herbal components.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected prescribed herbal materials (PHMs) in all four tested TCM preparations, with sensitivities ranging from 77.8% to 100%.
- The ITS2 biomarker demonstrated higher species-level reliability compared to trnL.
- Combining ITS2 and trnL biomarkers enhanced both sensitivity and overall reliability of ingredient detection.
Conclusions:
- The multi-barcode sequencing approach exhibits good universality, sensitivity, and reliability for analyzing complex TCM preparations.
- This research represents a significant advancement in applying multi-barcode sequencing for PHM analysis, supporting the digitization and modernization of TCM quality control.
