Authentication is Fundamental for Standardization of Chinese Medicines

Abstract

Chinese medicines (CMs) are being used more and more widely throughout the world. Since there are many poisoning incidents caused by misuse or confusion of CMs, their safe use has become a critical issue internationally. In this paper, based on the investigation of the current market of CMs, reasons for various confusions of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) are analyzed and clarified, such as herbs with multiple sources, regional custom-herbs, confusion in nomenclature, similarity in appearance, and complexity of processed products. Authentication of plant material is critical to the safe and effective use of CMM. In this paper, several authentication methods, such as taxonomy, morphology, microscopy, physical and chemical authentication, DNA molecular biology and their advanced applications in this area, are introduced. Furthermore, it is proposed that an authority on the authentication of CMM be established, as a physical institution and/or as an electronic database.

Authentication of the Thai medicinal plants sharing the same common name Rang Chuet: Thunbergia laurifolia, Crotalaria spectabilis, and Curcuma aff. amada by combined techniques of TLC, PCR-RFLP fingerprints, and antioxidant activities

“…Confusing herb nomenclature is clearly a significant problem in the herbal markets of many countries 28,29 . When one herb is used in place of another, the curative effects are not as expected.…”

“…Applying various methods in concert is necessary to conclusively confirm an identification or authentication 28 . A DNA-based technique is a supplementary method for this task.…”

Molecular authentication of multi-species honeysuckle tablets

“…With their characteristics of non-reliance on morphology, reproducibility, extreme reliability, and easy manipulation, DNA-based molecular tools are urgently needed in authenticating raw herbal materials. Authentication is essential for the standardization of Chinese medicines (Zhao et al, 2006). Authentication of raw materials is also required for commercial tablets in Chinese material medicine to maintain the quality of these tablets.…”

Quality Control for Medicinal Plants

“…The correct identification of medicinal plants is essential, as wrongly identified species, subspecies or species varieties are either therapeutically less active or inactive, or may even contain poisonous ingredients [5]. The methods of classical botany for plant identification are recently supplemented by various DNA-based technologies, including RAPD, RFLP, ARMS, CAPS, AFLP, DAF, ISSR, SSR, hybridization and microarrays [6].…”