ABSTRACT
DNA barcoding technology, a method of identifying biological species through a standard sequence, is widely used in the identification of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), promoting the renaissance of TCM authentication discipline. The whole industrial chain of TCM includes three sections: the planting and collecting in the upstream chain, the production of TCM in the midstream chain and the circulation in the downstream chain. DNA barcoding technology, which possesses accurate, common, and objective advantages, plays an important role in the whole industrial chain of TCM. In the upstream, it is used to identify the seeds, seedlings and medicinal plants, ensuring the original source is correct. In the middle, it is used to identify Chinese medicinal materials, Chinese herbal slices and Chinese patent medicines, ensuring the materials of enterprises are correct and the clinical medication is safe. In the downstream, it participates in the establishment of traceability system for TCM, achieving the recording, inquiry and traceability of information. Therefore, DNA barcoding technology should help to control the whole production process, to protect the rights and interests of consumers and contribute to the supervision of TCM. Combined with some study cases in recent years, this paper introduces the application of DNA barcoding technology in the whole industrial chain of TCM, which is of great significance to promote the modernization of TCM industry and their internationalization.
ABSTRACT
Herbgenomics is an interdisciplinary subject between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and genomics.It is a comprehensive discipline covering multi-omics research in both medicinal organisms of TCM and the relationship of TCM to human body.It has been widely used in the research fields of medicinal model organisms,synthetic biology of TCM,identification of TCM molecules and breeding of medicinal plant cultivars,pharmacokinetics,and the study on the geoherbalism and medicinal of TCM.With the release of important documents,such as the Law of the People's Republic of China on TCM and the Outline of TCM Development Strategy(2016-2030),the Chinese medicine industry has entered a new and high-level development opportunity and the herbgenomic research area has got a landmark achievement.The training of well-rounded students and researchers is a key point for the development of TCM industry and the reform of medical colleges and universities.Therefore,the establishment of herbgenomics is particularly important for the modernization of TCM.At present,many colleges and universities have set up the course of Herbgenomics among graduate students and undergraduates,and initially formed a distinctive herbal genomics talent training system.This paper introduces the herbgenomics from the progress of the research,the development of teaching courses,the background of the textbook,the main content and key technologies of the discipline and the prospect of discipline construction,in order to provide theoretical basis and methodological support for the discipline construction,personal training and scientific research of herbgenomics.