Progress in the use of DNA barcodes in the identification and classification of medicinal plants

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety 2021-01, Vol.208, p.111691, Article 111691
• Main Authors: Yu, Jie, Wu, Xi, Liu, Chang, Newmaster, Steve, Ragupathy, Subramanyam, Kress, W. John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bar-HRM; Chloroplast genome; DNA barcodes; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic - methods; DNA, Plant - genetics; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Medicinal plants; Metabarcoding; Plants, Medicinal - genetics
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111691

DNA barcoding is an emerging molecular identification and classification technology that has been applied to medicinal plants since 2008. The application of this technique has greatly ensured the safety and effectiveness of medicinal materials. In this paper, we review the application of DNA barcoding and some related technologies over the past 10 years with respect to improving our knowledge of medicinal plant identification and authentication. From single locus-based DNA barcodes to combined markers to genome-scale levels, DNA barcodes contribute more and more genetic information. At the same time, other technologies, such as high-resolution melting (HRM), have been combined with DNA barcoding. With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), metabarcoding technology has also been shown to identify species in mixed samples successfully. As a widely used and effective tool, DNA barcoding will become more useful over time in the field of medicinal plants. •Our manuscript is the first comprehensive review of the application of DNA barcodes in ethnobotany and herbal medicines.•The applications of genome and HRM technology in DNA barcoding are reviewed.•The future development direction and trend of DNA barcoding are pointed out.