Life Sciences Commons^™

Dna-Based Authentication Of Botanicals And Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements: Where Have We Been And Where Are We Going?, Denise F. Coutinho Moraes, David W. Still, Michelle R. Lum, Ann M. Hirsch

Biology Faculty Works

Herbal medicines and botanicals have long been used as sole or additional medical aids worldwide. Currently, billions of dollars are spent on botanicals and related products, but minimal regulation exists regarding their purity, integrity, and efficacy. Cases of adulteration and contamination have led to severe illness and even death in some cases. Identifying the plant material in botanicals and phytomedicines using organoleptic means or through microscopic observation of plant parts is not trivial, and plants are often misidentified. Recently, DNA-based methods have been applied to these products because DNA is not changed by growth conditions unlike the chemical constituents of …