Page 270 - 2025中醫藥與天然藥物聯合學術研討會-中醫藥與天然藥物的挑戰Ｘ機遇與未來大會手冊

CM-03

Identification and authentication of commercial Banxia and Tiannanxing in

Taiwan using ITS sequences

1
#,1
1
Jui-Chi Hung, Tsai-Jung Hsu, Wei-Hsuan Huang, Ngoc-Phuoc Ngo, Meng-Shiou
1
2
Lee, Kun-Chang Wu*
,1

1 School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
2 Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College
of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
* E-mail: kunchangwu@gmail.com

Abstract
Accurate authentication of herbal medicines is essential for clinical efficacy and patient
safety. In Taiwan, commercial materials of Banxia and Tiannanxing are commonly used but
often confused due to morphological similarity and processing practices. This study aimed to
authenticate six commercial samples using DNA barcoding of the internal transcribed spacer
(ITS) region. Total DNA was extracted, ITS was amplified with universal primers, and
sequences were compared with NCBI GenBank references via BLAST. Results showed that
one crude sample labeled as Tiannanxing was actually Pinellia ternata, while another
Tiannanxing sample was correctly identified as Arisaema erubescens. A sample labeled as
Huzhang Tiannanxing was confirmed as Pinellia pedatisecta. Two samples labeled as Fa
Banxia were both properly processed, but one corresponded to P. ternata while the other was
misidentified as P. pedatisecta. Additionally, a Jiang Banxia sample was correctly identified as
P. ternata. These findings demonstrate that ITS sequencing reliably distinguishes Banxia and
Tiannanxing species, uncovers mislabeling, and strengthens quality control, thereby reducing
clinical risks and supporting safe, standardized use of traditional Chinese medicines.

Keywords: Pinellia ternata; Arisaema erubescens; Pinelliae Rhizoma; Arisaematis Rhizoma;
Quality evaluation; DNA barcoding