DNA from herbs can be obtained from air and authenticated by polymerase chain reaction

Hiu-Lam Ngai; Hung Kay Lee; Pang-Chui Shaw

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18946

DNA from herbs can be obtained from air and authenticated by polymerase chain reaction

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 6;9(8):e18946. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18946. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Hiu-Lam Ngai¹, Hung Kay Lee², Pang-Chui Shaw^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.
² Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
³ LDS YYC R&D Centre for Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China.

Abstract

DNA barcoding of herbs allows accurate species authentication. However, the DNA of herbs are often not easily PCR amplified due to co-extraction of inhibitors. Methods have been developed to improve DNA extraction to reduce contaminants. These methods usually require toxic chemical treatments or expensive commercial kits and are labor intensive. In this report, we collected the air passed from the herbs and directly amplified the DNA obtained. Results showed that DNA could be obtained, and it was PCR amplifiable. Sequencing of the amplified DNA allowed species authentication. This DNA collection method is applicable to herbs from different plant tissues. It has the advantages of reducing the use of toxic substances and more economical.

Keywords: Air; DNA; Herbs; PCR amplification; Species authentication.