Authentication of Stephania tetrandra commercial products using DNA mini-barcoding

Plant-based medicine are used worldwide for their desirable pharmacological properties. Although herbal medicines are often perceived as a more natural and safer alternative to conventional and modern drug therapies, there are many herbal products that actually cause serious complications. A historic example was reported in Belgium in the 1990s. Multiple incidents of severe renal disease were reported and linked to the substitution of the relatively harmless Stephania tetrandra (Hang Fang Ji) with the nephrotoxic Aristolochia fangchi (Guang Fang Ji) [1]. Although, there are methods available, such as HPLC and Hyperspectral imaging, to detect Aristolochia presence in herbal remedies, these have limitations that lower the efficiency. Therefore, there is still a need for a quick and inexpensive method for distinguishing between Fang Ji herbal medicines [2]. In this research DNA mini-barcoding, a method of species identification using