Abstract
Gynostemma pentaphyllum
is a traditional oriental medicinal herb used as tea since ancient time. Among
Gynostemma
species,
G. pentaphyllum
has more active chemical components and better therapeutic effect. It is used to cure depression, diabetes, anxiety, hyperlipidemia, fatigue, immunity, cancer, and oxidative stress. Overexploitation of
G. pentaphyllum
for its medicinal benefits has been on a rise, due to which they are adulterated or mistakenly identified with other members of
Gynostemma
species. Hence, we used chloroplast universal regions such as
ycf3
,
accD
,
petD
,
psbB
and their polymorphism to distinguish
G. pentaphyllum
from other
Gynostemma
species. By using the species-specific primers derived from the above regions, we established a multiplex allele-specific PCR for the authentication of
G. pentaphyllum
from other species. Thus the PCR reaction produced unique amplicons of size 244 bp and 438 bp for
G. pentaphyllum
amplified by the primers flanking ycf3, and accD regions respectively. While a 607 bp, and 787 bp amplicons from the primers targeting psbB, and petD regions distinguished
G. longipes
,
G. burmanicum
, and
G. pubescens
species. Moreover, these primers were successful to analyze the dried tea samples of
Gynostemma
as well. Thus, the developed molecular markers could authenticate different
Gynostemma
species as well as its products thereby preventing the mistaken-identity of this medicinal herb.
