In recent years, interest in halal authentication from the domestic food and cosmetics field has been growing for advances into the overseas halal market. For halal authentication, the product must not contain haram ingredients derived from pig, dog, human, GMO, etc. In this study, the presence of haram ingredients in plant extracts (carrot, oyster mushroom, and pine needle) treated with papain and bromelain and cosmetics (mask pack and cream) containing these extracts were analyzed by PCR to confirm whether these cosmetics were suitable for halal authentication. Detection limits of the PCR method that specifically detected template DNA of human, pig, dog, and GMO were 1.29×103, 1.14×103, 1.24×102 and 2.02×103 copies/tube, respectively. PCR was not inhibited by the plant extracts or cosmetic ingredients. Results of PCR for the plant extracts or cosmetics containing these extracts were all negative. This PCR method could be used to rapidly identify the presence of haram ingredients in raw materials or final products during the manufacturing process of food and cosmetics.

The fruits of Schisandra chinensis have been used as an edible ingredient and traditional medicine in Korea. Due to morphological similarities of dried mature fruits, the correct identification of S. chinensis from other closely related Schisandrae species is very difficult. Therefore, molecular biological tools based on genetic analysis are required to identify authentic Schisandrae Fructus. Random amplifed polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) were used to develop an easy, reliable and reproducible method for the authentication of these four species. In this paper, we developed several RAPD-derived species specific SCAR markers and established a multiplex-PCR condition suitable to discriminate each species. These genetic markers will be useful to distinguish and authenticate Schisandrae Fructus and four medicinal plants, S. chinensis, S. sphenanthera, S. repanda and K. japonica, in species level.

The rhizomes and herbal medicines originating from Acorus gramineus, A. calamus, A. tatarinowii, and A. gramineus var. pusilus, show significant similarity, and the correct identification of species is very difficult. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) were used to develop a reliable method for identification of these four species. Several distinct SCAR markers were developed from species-specific RAPD amplicons for each species. Furthermore, a useful molecular marker was established for multiplex-PCR, in order to the four species could be distinguished concurrently. These markers allow efficient and rapid identification of closely-related Acorus species and will be useful for standardization of herbal medicines.

This study describes an efficient approach to the development of DNA markers for use in distinguishing the Scrophularia species that have been used as useful medicinal crops. In order to distinguish Scrophularia species, DNA sequences of rpl-5 region in mitochondrial DNA of Scrophularia species were analysed for detecting sequence variations, and the PCR-RFLP method was applied for developing practicable DNA marker patterns. Several DNA variations were detected by the sequence comparison of rpl-5 region among Scrophularia species. Genetic relationship analysis of Scrophularia species was carried out based on these DNA variations. DNA variations of rpl-5 region were revealed that it was significantly efficient in genetic relationship analysis of Scrophularia species. In addition, Scrophularia species tested in this study were completely discriminated by four polymorphic genotypes by PCR-RFLP combined with Tsp509 I (^AATT) restriction enzyme. Our results suggested that DNA sequence variations of rpl-5 region were sufficiently useful for genetic relationship analysis of Scrophularia species. Polymorphic genotypes by PCR-RFLP using the Tsp509 I enzyme will be useful for discrimination of Scrophularia species as a practicable DNA markers.