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Updated: May 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Harnessing DNA Barcode Technology to Enhance the Efficiency of Medicinal Plant Identification
Published on: November 1, 2024
From Species to Varieties: How Modern Sequencing Technologies Are Shaping Medicinal Plant Identification
Mingcheng Wang1,2, Haifeng Lin3, Hongqiang Lin4
1Institute for Advanced Study, Chengdu University, No. 2025 Chengluo Road, Chengdu 610106, China.
Background/Objectives:
Modern sequencing technologies have transformed the identification of medicinal plant species and varieties, overcoming the limitations of traditional morphological and chemical approaches. This review explores the key DNA-based techniques, including molecular markers, DNA barcoding, and high-throughput sequencing, and their contributions to enhancing the accuracy and reliability of plant identification. Additionally, the integration of multi-omics approaches is examined to provide a comprehensive understanding of medicinal plant identity.
Methods:
The literature search for this review was conducted across databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed, using keywords related to plant taxonomy, genomics, and biotechnology. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed studies closely related to plant identification methods and techniques that contribute significantly to the field.
Results:
The review highlights that while sequencing technologies offer substantial improvements, challenges such as high costs, technical expertise, and the lack of standardized protocols remain barriers to widespread adoption. Potential solutions, including AI-driven data analysis and portable sequencers, are discussed.
Conclusions:
This review provides a comprehensive overview of molecular techniques, their transformative impact, and future perspectives for more accurate and efficient medicinal plant identification.
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