ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for identification of Angelica sinensis from its adulterants by analyzing trnL-F and rpoC1 sequences. METHODS: The plastid trnL-F and rpoC1 of 25 samples of A. sinensis and its adulterants were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. The K-2-P distances of A. sinensis and its adulterants were calculated, and the phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: The trnL-F sequence showed significantly larger length variation range, numbers of variable sites and informative sites, and evolutionary distance than rpoC1 sequence. There were significant differences between A. sinensis and the adulterants based on the trnL-F sequences. One SNP site and one repeated base A region could be used as specific authenticable sites. The distance of A. sinensis and its adulterants ranged from 0.002-0.231 as shown by trnL-F sequences. Phylogeny tree reconstruction using MP analysis based on trnL-F sequences could effectively distinguish A. sinensis from adulterants. However, analysis of the rpoC1 sequences could not identify A. sinensis and its adulterants. CONCLUSION: The rpoC1 sequence has poor capability for identification of A. sinensis and its adulterants. The trnL-F sequence could be used as an efficient molecular marker for authenticating A. sinensis from its adulterants.