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Real-time PCR to target Hoodia in herbal supplements: a tool for conservation and trade regulation

Marie-Alice Fraiture¹, Andrea Gobbo¹, Patrick Philipp²

¹Sciensano, Transversal activities in Applied Genomics (TAG) Rue Juliette Wytsman 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

Food Chemistry. Molecular Sciences

|February 13, 2026

Abstract:

Plants belonging to the Hoodia genus are widely used as ingredients in herbal dietary supplements. Rising demand and overharvesting have led to supply shortages, adulteration, and CITES-regulated trade, threatening the authenticity and safety of Hoodia in commercial products. These factors highlight the need for a reliable genus-level detection method for Hoodia to support the control of illegal trade and the verification of marketed Hoodia-based products. To address this need, we developed a real-time PCR method specific to Hoodia genus targeting the ITS2 region, a molecular marker with high variability enabling detection and differentiation of plant species or genera. Due to the limited number of publicly available Hoodia ITS2 sequences, 13 additional sequences were generated in-house to support assay design. This real-time PCR method was validated in compliance with international standards, demonstrating high specificity, high sensitivity, and inter-laboratory transferability. Its applicability was verified by testing commercial herbal dietary supplements. This study provides enforcement laboratories with a validated molecular tool to support Hoodia monitoring and authentication in commercial products.

Keywords:

Authenticity CITES DNA-based detection Herbal dietary supplements Hoodia genus Real-time PCR development and validation

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