Specific PCR assays to determine bovine, porcine, fish and plant origin of gelatin capsules of dietary supplements.
Gelatin, a purified protein derived mostly from pig skin and bovine tissue, is used widely in both food and pharmaceutical industries. Here, to determine the species of origin of capsule gelatin, we developed a sensitive and reliable test using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, which included 1) species-specific or universal primer sets, designed to detect short 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences from cow, pig, and fish (tilapia) as well as genes encoding the large subunit of plant ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase and 2) species-specific PCR coupled with whole-genome amplification. This method was used to verify manufacturing label claims of 28 gelatin capsule samples sold as dietary supplements. The results from 27 samples were consistent with gelatin-related information on the manufacturer label, while one sample that mentioned tilapia gelatin was found to contain only bovine DNA. This rapid method can therefore be used to verify the authenticity of gelatin capsules.
Department of Food Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
Jae-Hwang
JH
Lee
New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, South Korea.
Mi-Ra
MR
Kim
New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, South Korea.
Cheon-Ho
CH
Jo
New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, South Korea.
Yoo-Kyung
YK
Jung
New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, South Korea.
Kisung
K
Kwon
New Hazardous Substance Team, Food Safety Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, South Korea. Electronic address: missa@korea.kr.
Tae Sun
TS
Kang
D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005396:Fish Products / Q000032:analysis; D005780:Gelatin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017343:Genes, Plant; D016678:Genome; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D027723:Ipomoea batatas; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D017210:Tilapia
D002214:Capsules; D017931:DNA Primers; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D005780:Gelatin; D004247:DNA
Food fraud; Species-specific primer; Universal primer; Whole-genome amplification