title: A strategy for trade monitoring and substitution of the organs of threatened animals.
abstract: The use of threatened animals as a source of traditional medicines is accelerating the extinction of such species and imposes great challenges to animal conservation. In this study, we propose a feasible strategy for the conservation of threatened medicinal animals that combines trade monitoring and the search for substitutes. First, DNA barcoding provides a powerful technique for monitoring the trade of animal species, which helps in restricting the excessive use and illegal trade of such species. Second, pharmacological tests have been adopted to evaluate the biological equivalence of threatened and domestic animals; based on such testing, potential substitutes are recommended. Based on a review of threatened animal species and their substitutes, we find that the search for substitutes deserves special attention; however, this work is far from complete. These results may be of great value for the conservation of threatened animals and maintaining the heritage of traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: 1] China Military Institute of Chinese Medicine, Integrative Medical Center of the 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, P.R. China [2] Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, P.R. China [3].
authors.forename: Jiao-yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jing-yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yu-mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mei-hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Shi-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-he
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D056727:Endangered Species; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010802:Phylogeny