Droplet digital PCR for the identification of plant-derived adulterants in highly processed products.

Background: The high sensitivity of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) contributes to its excellent performance in animal and microorganism identification, but the utilization of ddPCR is limited in plant adulterant identification of highly processed products for which effective methods are lacking.

Purpose: This study investigated the feasibility of ddPCR in the identification of plant adulterants in Chinese patent medicine (CPM) as groundwork to develop ddPCR assays for other highly processed goods.

Methods: The original plant, processed and highly processed products of Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) and its two adulterants were used to analyze the specificity, sensitivity, and practical performance of the developed singleplex and triplex ddPCR assays.

Application of DNA barcoding to the entire traditional Chinese medicine industrial chain: A case study of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.

Background: Safety concerns, caused by complex and unpredictable adulterants, run through the entire industrial chain of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). However, the conventional circulation traceability system only focuses on a certain end or link at the back end of the TCM industrial chain, ignoring the integrity of the links cross the entire industrial chain and lacking traceability. In consequence, a strict and rational supervision system is urgently required for the entire industrial chain.

TaqMan Probe-Based Quantitative Real-Time PCR to Detect in Traditional Chinese Patent Medicines.

There has been global concern about the safety and accuracy of traditional Chinese patent medicines (TCPMs). , also known as sanqi, is an important constituent of TCPMs. However, identifying the species contained in TCPMs is challenging due to the presence of multiple ingredients and the use of various preparation processes.

[Research progress in original species identification in industry chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma].

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is a kind of commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Due to the overharvesting, the wild resource is endangering. Large market demand caused severely adulterant of commercial Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces.