Trends in the development of discriminating between Angelica L. species using advanced DNA barcoding techniques

Abstract

We reviewed current research trends for discriminating between species of the Angelica genus, a group of important medicinal plants registered in South Korea, China, and Japan. Since the registered species for medicinal purposes differ by country, they are often adulterated as well as mixed in commercial markets. Several DNA technologies have been applied to distinguish between species. However, one of the restrictions is insufficient single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the target DNA fragments; in particular, among closely-related species. Recently, amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR and highresolution melting (HRM) curve analysis techniques have been developed to solve such a problem. We applied both technologies, and found they were able to discriminate several lines of Angelica genus, including A. gigas Nakai, A. gigas Jiri, A. sinensis, A. acutiloba Kitag, and Levisticum officinale. Furthermore, although the ITS region differs only by one SNP between A. gigas Nakai and A. gigas Jiri, both HRM and ARMS-PCR techniques were powerful enough to discriminate between them. Since both A. gigas Nakai and A. gigas Jiri are native species to South Korea and are very closely related, they are difficult to discriminate by their morphological characteristics. For practical applications of these technologies, further research is necessary with various materials, such as dried or processed materials (jam, jelly, juice, medicinal decoctions, etc.) in commercial markets. KeywordsAngelica genus, DNA barcoding, ARMS-PCR, HRM curve 서 론 대한민국의 약전에서는 참당귀(Angelica. gigas Nakai)와 일 당귀[Angelica. acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag]를 당귀의 기 원식물로 지정하고 있으나 중국과 일본에서는 중국당귀 (Angelica. sinenesis)와 일당귀를 지정하고 있다. 국내에 자생 하거나 한약재로 유통되는 Angelica 속 식물은 18종으로 참 당귀(A. gigas Nakai)와 일당귀[A. acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag]가 대표적이다(Gil et al. 2016). 중국당귀(A. sinenesis)는