Authentication of Garcinia fruits and food supplements using DNA barcoding and NMR spectroscopy

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 12;8(1):10561. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-28635-z.

Abstract

Garcinia L. (Clusiaceae) fruits are a rich source of (-)-hydroxycitric acid, and this has gained considerable attention as an anti-obesity agent and a popular weight loss food supplement. In this study, we assessed adulteration of morphologically similar samples of Garcinia using DNA barcoding, and used NMR to quantify the content of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and (-)-hydroxycitric acid lactone in raw herbal drugs and Garcinia food supplements. DNA barcoding revealed that mostly G. gummi-gutta (previously known as G. cambogia) and G. indica were traded in Indian herbal markets, and there was no adulteration. The content of (-)-hydroxycitric acid and (-)-hydroxycitric acid lactone in the two species varied from 1.7% to 16.3%, and 3.5% to 20.7% respectively. Analysis of ten Garcinia food supplements revealed a large variation in the content of (-)-hydroxycitric acid, from 29 mg (4.6%) to 289 mg (50.6%) content per capsule or tablet. Only one product contained quantifiable amounts of (-)-hydroxycitric acid lactone. Furthermore the study demonstrates that DNA barcoding and NMR could be effectively used as a regulatory tool to authenticate Garcinia fruit rinds and food supplements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Obesity Agents / analysis*
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemistry
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Citrates / analysis
  • DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis*
  • Drug Contamination / prevention & control*
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Contamination / prevention & control
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Garcinia / chemistry*
  • Garcinia / genetics
  • India
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Substances

  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Citrates
  • hydroxycitric acid