[Comparison between macroscopic identification and DNA barcoding identification of Amomi Fructus]

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Molecular Biology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Macroscopic identification of Amomi Fructus is crucial for quality control in traditional medicine.
• Traditional identification relies on morphological and sensory characteristics, which can be subjective.
• DNA barcoding offers a molecular approach to species identification and authentication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the consistency between macroscopic and DNA barcoding identification of Amomi Fructus.
• To evaluate the reliability of quality assessment by combining macroscopic traits with volatile chemical components, validated by DNA barcoding.
• To provide a scientific basis for the traditional identification methods of Amomi Fructus.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic and sensory evaluation of 13 Amomi Fructus batches according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Measurement of physical characteristics (100-fruit weight, dimensions) and analysis of volatile components (borneol, camphor, limonene, borneol acetate) using electronic nose.
• DNA barcoding for species identification and comparative analysis with macroscopic and chemical data through clustering.

Main Results:

• Macroscopic identification showed 84.62% consistency with DNA barcoding results for Amomi Fructus samples.
• Clustering analysis of macroscopic traits and four key volatile components aligned with DNA barcoding identification outcomes.
• The combination of macroscopic traits and chemical profiling demonstrated enhanced accuracy in Amomi Fructus quality evaluation.

Conclusions:

• DNA barcoding serves as a reliable tool to verify macroscopic identification of Amomi Fructus.
• Integrating macroscopic traits with chemical component analysis improves the accuracy of quality assessment for Chinese medicinal materials.
• This study supports the scientific validation and development of traditional pharmacognostic identification methods.