Identifying origins of medicinal plant resources by using DNA barcode

Medicinal plant resources have been widely used as a herbal material in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and health functional foods, it is essential to scientifically identify their species for conservation and sustainable use. In accordance with development of analytical techniques, e.g. DNA barcode, a new approach to species authentication makes closely related species authenticate more clearly. In this study, we applied DNA barcoding to develop species authentication method with species-specific genetic markers and analytical conditions of herbal materials authenticated by organoleptic characteristics like appearance, smell, taste and texture [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. DNA barcoding regions, in chloroplast and nucleus (e. g. ITS) were evaluated for their effectiveness in species authentication. PCR amplification and DNA sequencing has been applied to 53 medicinal plant materials including Licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Comparative analysis was performed to assess genetic variation and species differentiation. This research showed discrepancies between DNA-based and organoleptic test-based species authentications in some samples. Additionally, intra-species variation was disclosed among genetically matched specimens, highlighting the genetic diversity within certain species. These findings demonstrate the importance of molecular authentication in species authentication and contribute to the systematic conservation and sustainable management of herbal materials, supporting their quality and safety in regulatory science and various industries. Acknowledgement This research was supported by a grant (24201MFDS235) from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2024-2026. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany