Identification and characteristic of Testudinis carapax et Plastrum and other turtle species by multiple PCR / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristic of Chinese herbal medicine Testudinis carapax et Plastrum by the multiple PCR technique. METHODS: The salting out method was modified to extract mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Testudinis carapax et Plastrum and their counterfeits. The sequences of cytochrome b (Cyt b) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (Col) genes were downloaded from the GenBank database, and two specific pairs of primers were designed with Premier 5.0. The genes of Testudinis carapax et Plastrum were amplified with multiple PCR and sequenced. RESULTS: The size of mtDNA got by salting out method was 16.6×103 bp, and two bright stripes between 300-500 bp were shown in agarose gel electrophoresis of authentic Testudinis carapax et Plastrum, only one or no stripe appeared for the counterfeits. CONCLUSION: The multiple PCR technique is specific, simple, and accurate for differentiation of authentic Testudinis carapax et Plastrum from their counterfeits.