Application of Partial Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences for the Discrimination of Artemisia capillaris from Other Artemisia Species.
Several Artemisia species are used as herbal medicines including the dried aerial parts of Artemisia capillaris, which are used as Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (known as "Injinho" in Korean medicinal terminology and "Yin Chen Hao" in Chinese). In this study, we developed tools for distinguishing between A. capillaris and 11 other Artemisia species that grow and/or are cultured in China, Japan, and Korea. Based on partial nucleotide sequences in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) that differ between the species, we designed primers to amplify a DNA marker for A. capillaris. In addition, to detect other Artemisia species that are contaminants of A. capillaris, we designed primers to amplify DNA markers of A. japonica, A. annua, A. apiacea, and A. anomala. Moreover, based on random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, we confirmed that primers developed in a previous study could be used to identify Artemisia species that are sources of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba. By using these primers, we found that multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was a reliable tool to distinguish between A. capillaris and other Artemisia species and to identify other Artemisia species as contaminants of A. capillaris in a single PCR.
Division of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
Eui Jeong
EJ
Doh
Division of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Ho
SH
Paek
Department of Herbology, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Republic of Korea.
Guemsan
G
Lee
Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
Mi-Young
MY
Lee
Division of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Eun
SE
Oh