Specific PCR Method for Identification of Medicinal Scolopendra / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: Scolopendra was a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) with a good medicinal value. Nowadays, there have been increasingly more adulterates of Scolopendra in the medicine market. To ensure the safe and effectiveness of clinical medicines,a convenient and accurate specific polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method for identification of medicinal Scolopendra from its common adulterates was established. Method: Based on the differences of COI gene DNA sequences among Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans and adulterants,the specific primer was designed,the reaction conditions were optimized,and the PCR method for identification was explored and verified in terms of tolerance and feasibility. Besides,the original animal samples and medicine of Scolopendra were collected. Result: Through the established PCR reaction system,the bright and simple fragments of 500 bp was amplified from DNA templates of S. subspinipes mutilans. All of the adulterants were negative by the multiplex PCR assay,such as S. multidens,S. subspinipes,S. dehaani,S. hainanum. Conclusion: The identified primer is highly specific,and the specific PCR method established in this paper can accurately identify Scolopendra and its adulterants, so as to provide an excellent scientific basis for the identification of TCM Scolopendra. The method is simple and intuitive, and facilitates wide promotion and application of the method, with a broad application prospect in the identification of TCM.