Advancements in the Identification and Categorization of Medicinal Plants Via the Application of DNA Barcodes

Abstract

Since 2008, medicinal plants have benefited from DNA barcoding, a relatively new molecular identification and classification tool. The use of this method has significantly improved confidence in the quality and efficacy of medicines. In this work, we discuss how the use of DNA barcoding and similar technologies has advanced our understanding of the identification and authenticity of medicinal plants during the past decade. DNA barcodes have expanded their genetic data contribution at every scale from “single locus-based DNA” barcodes to integrated markers to genome-scale levels. DNA barcoding has also been integrated with other methods, “such as high-resolution melting (HRM)”. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has made it possible for metabarcoding technology to successfully identify species in complex mixtures. DNA barcoding is becoming increasingly important in the study of medicinal plants as a commonly utilized and successful approach.