DNA metabarcoding unveils authenticity and adulteration in commercial Chinese polyherbal preparations: Renshen Jianpi Wan as a critical case study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Ensuring quality and authenticity of traditional medicines is crucial, particularly for multi-ingredient formulations like commercial Chinese polyherbal preparations (CCPPs). This study aims to authenticate Renshen Jianpi Wan (RSJPW), a classical CCPP composed of 11 prescribed botanical drugs, using DNA metabarcoding to overcome challenges in species-level identification of processed biological ingredients.

Methods

We analyzed 56 commercial RSJPW products from different manufacturers and production batches, alongside eight laboratory-prepared reference samples serving as authentic controls. A dual-marker protocol combining ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions was employed, with optimized DNA extraction and PCR protocols to mitigate degradation issues.

Results

Detecti

SUBMITTER: Zhou S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12066679 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature