Search

Quality control in botanical products begins with the raw material supply. Traditionally, botanical identification is performed through morphological assessment and chemical analytical methods. However, the lack of availability of botanists, especially in recent years, coupled with the need to enhance quality control to combat the stresses on the supply chain brought by increasing consumer demand and climate change, necessitates alternative approaches. The goal of this protocol is to facilitate botanical species identification using a portable qPCR system on the field or in any setting, where access to laboratory equipment and expertise is limited. Target DNA is amplified using dye-based qPCR, with DNA extracted from botanical reference materials serving as a positive control. The target DNA is identified by its specific amplification and matching its melting peak against the positive control. A detailed description of the steps and parameters, from hands-on field sample collection, to DNA extraction, PCR amplification, followed by data interpretation, has been included to ensure that readers can replicate this protocol. The results produced align with traditional laboratory botanical identification methods. The protocol is easy to perform and cost-effective, enabling quality testing on raw materials as close to the point of origin of the supply chain as possible.

Background: PCR methods are the most commonly used DNA-based identity tool in the commercial food, beverage, and natural health product markets. These methods are routinely used to identify foodborne pathogens and allergens in food. Proper validation methods for some sectors have been established, while there are none in other markets, such as botanicals. Results: A survey of the literature indicates that some validation criteria are not addressed when developing PCR tests for botanicals. Objective: We provide recommendations for qualitative real-time PCR methods for validating identity tests for botanical ingredients. Methods: These include common criteria that underpin the development and validation of rigorous tests, including ( 1 ) the aim of the validation test, ( 2 ) the applicability of different matrix variants, ( 3 ) specificity in identifying the target species ingredient, ( 4 ) sensitivity in detecting the smallest amount of the target material, ( 5 ) repeatability of methods, ( 6 ) reproducibility in detecting the target species in both raw and processed materials, ( 7 ) practicability of the test in a commercial laboratory, and ( 8 ) comparison with alternative methods. In addition, we recommend additional criteria, according to which the practicability of the test method is evaluated by transferring the method to a second laboratory and by comparison with alternative methods. Conclusions and Highlights: We hope that these recommendations encourage further publication on the validation of PCR methods for many botanical ingredients. These properly validated PCR methods can be developed on small, real-time biotechnology that can be placed directly into the supply chain ledger in support of highly transparent data systems that support QC from the farm to the fork of the consumer.

Background: There is considerable risk of adulteration of Ginkgo biloba herbal products in the natural health product (NHP) industry. Authentication of G. biloba products is challenging because of the standard, complex, analytical chemistry methods that may be too costly and not appropriate for both raw and finished products. Objective: We sought to develop and validate an alternative method to authenticate G. biloba herbal dietary supplements, based on the use of a species-specific hydrolysis PCR probe assay. Methods: A species-specific hydrolysis probe assay was developed, validated, and evaluated for the performance of the assay in accurately identifying the species of interest using the following analytical validation criteria: ( 1 ) specificity (accuracy) in identifying the target species ingredient, while not identifying other nontarget species, ( 2 ) sensitivity in detecting the smallest amount of the target material, and ( 3 ) reliability (repeatability and reproducibility) in detecting the target species in raw materials on a real-time PCR platform. Results: The species-specific hydrolysis probe assay was successfully developed for raw materials of G. biloba. The specificity of the assay was 100% to the target species. Efficiency of the assay was observed to be 99%, and the reliability of the assay was 100% for the raw/starting materials. Conclusions and Highlights: The method developed in this study is simple, rapid, and easy for supplement manufacturers to perform in their laboratories to ensure that their G. biloba supplements are authentic.