"Gusuibu" is a traditional Chinese medicine which has been extensively used in the treatment of bone injuries. In the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, “Gusuibu” is limited to the dried rhizome of Drynaria roosii. However, it is difficult to distinguish the dried rhizome of D. roosii from adulterants. 

In a recent study published in Industrial Crops and Products, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) developed one specific DNA barcode and three sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to authenticate "Gusuibu" origin species. They also designed universal and species specific primer pairs. 

Using the Illumina HiSeq X-Ten platform, the researchers sequenced 21 chloroplast genomes of seven species including D. roosii, D. sinica, D. bonii, D. delavayi, D. quercifolia, D. propinqua, and Pseudodrynaria coronans.  

The chloroplast genomes ranged from 151,466 bp to 155,348 bp in size and 80× to 794× coverage. After comparing the chloroplast genome structure, they found genetically divergent regions in the seven species.  

Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the chloroplast genome was available as super-barcode to distinguish “Gusuibu” origin species from adulterants. 

Furthermore, based on the chloroplast genomes, one specific DNA barcode rbcL gene fragment and three SCAR markers, which can successfully authenticate D. roosii from adulterants, were identified, and two universal and two specific primer pairs were designed. 

"The primer pairs for amplification of DNA barcode and SCAR markers designed in this study will be useful for economically and effectively distinguishing D. roosii from adulterants, and for guaranteeing the quality, safety, and effectiveness of "Gusuibu” herbs", Said Dr. TIAN Bo, principal investigator of the study.