DNA barcode testing in authentication of botanical raw material coming of age

Growing popularity globally in use of botanicals and their processed botanicals (referred as botanicals in the rest of this article), emerging data on their sustainability, availability, and supply chain issues have raised concerns on quality of such products. Botanicals are finding use in health supplements and nutraceuticals, in dermatological and cosmetic preparations, and also in traditional medicines apart from botanical drugs in the US and phytopharmaceuticals in India. Different studies have also pointed out to increase in substitution, adulteration, and use of unauthenticated botanicals. In this context, it is not wrong to state that “the first step of quality for a botanical-based product is to use the botanically authenticated plant and its parts of the correct genus and species.” Read more...