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CM-22

The role of DNA super-barcodes in the authentication of herbal medicine

1
,1
Vo Ngoc Linh Giang,* Huynh Phuoc Minh Anh

1 School of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi
Minh City 700000, Vietnam
* E-mail: linhgiang@ump.edu.vn

Abstract
Genetic methods, like DNA barcoding, are more precise than morphological approaches for
identifying plant species. With the affordability of NGS approaches, the number of complete
plastomes and 45S rDNA sequences of plant species have rapidly expanded. They might be
utilized as superbarcodes with numerous single nucleotide polymorphism sites that can serve
as species-specific DNA barcodes to identify plant species with great resolution. The medicinal
properties of plants from Araliaceae family, Astragalus genus, and Crocus genus are well
known. As economically motivated adulteration targets certain plant species, DNA super-
barcodes are necessary to combat it. The whole plastomes of Araliaceae, Astragalus genus, and
Crocus genus were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood and
neighbour-joining methods. The nucleotide diversity of the studied species was examined by
analyzing the alignment data using the R package. SNP loci that met the dCAPS and KASP
assay criteria were collected to convert into species-specific markers. A total of 18 dCAPS
markers and over 30 KASP markers were effectively used to distinguish 10 species belonging
to Araliaceae family. Additionally, 8 dCAPS markers were established for Astragalus
membranaceus and another 8 for Crocus sativus. DNA super-barcode-generated phylogenetic
trees were the backbone to characterize the diversity of plant species. Species-specific SNPs
that could convert to dCAPS and KASP markers for accurate species identification. It will have
advantages in terms of protecting consumer health, providing pre-selling warnings, managing
medicinal plant cultivation properly, and protecting the plants from overharvesting or habitat
destruction.

Keywords: dCAPS markers; KASP markers; Plastome; Species-specific barcodes; Super
barcodes