Scientific Reports |
Article Open
Survey of commercial Rhodiola products revealed species diversity and potential safety issues
- Scientific Reports
- 5,
- Article number:
- 8337
- doi:10.1038/srep08337
- Received
- Accepted
- Published
The adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety. Here we surveyed the species composition of commercial Rhodiola products using DNA barcoding as a supervisory method. A Rhodiola dietary supplement DNA barcode database was successfully constructed using 82 voucher samples from 10 Rhodiola
species. Based on the DNA barcoding standard operating procedure (SOP),
we used this database to identify 100 Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et
Rhizoma decoction piece samples that were purchased from drug stores and
hospitals. The results showed that only 36 decoction piece sequences
(40%) were authentic R. crenulata, which is recorded in Chinese
Pharmacopeia, whereas the other samples were all adulterants and may
indicate a potential safety issue. Among the adulterants, 35 sequences
(38.9%) were authenticated as R. serrata, nine sequences (10%) were authenticated as R. rosea, which is documented in the United States Pharmacopeia, and the remaining samples were authenticated as other three Rhodiola
species. This result indicates decoction pieces that are available in
the market have complex origins and DNA barcoding is a convenient tool
for market supervision.
