Comprehensive Identification of Rhubarb Species Based on DNA Barcoding and Multiple-Indicator Quantification
Yifan Wang,
Lin Yang,
Zhao Yang,
Min Zhang,
Luyi Shen,
Yiwen Lu,
Jing Lin,
Fan Tang,
Qiong Jiang,
Cheng Zhu,
Leilei Zhang,
Yanfei Ding
Affiliations
Yifan Wang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Lin Yang
Department of Modern Agricultural Technology, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhao Yang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Min Zhang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Luyi Shen
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Yiwen Lu
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Jing Lin
Meitang Agriculture (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311116, China
Fan Tang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Qiong Jiang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Cheng Zhu
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Leilei Zhang
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Yanfei Ding
Key Laboratory of Specialty Agri-Product Quality and Hazard Controlling Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Rhubarb is a significant medicinal herb in China. Its adulteration or fabrication is common in the market. Consequently, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive identification method to accurately identify genuine rhubarb and its adulterants. In this study, the sequences of chloroplast genes rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 from three genuine rhubarbs (Rheum tanguticum, Rh. palmatum and Rh. officinale) and their adulterants (Rumex japonicus and Rumex spp.) were amplified, sequenced and subjected to genetic analyses. The genetic distances for rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 between genuine rhubarbs and their adulterants showed that there was an evident barcoding gap, which allowed the adulterants to be distinguished from the genuine rhubarbs, as demonstrated by a neighbor joining tree. Additionally, Rh. officinale could be distinguished from the other two genuine rhubarbs. The anthraquinone, sennoside, polysaccharide and protein contents were analyzed in seven rhubarbs using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Cluster and principal component analyses results showed that Rh. tanguticum and Rh. palmatum could be effectively distinguished. The study suggests that DNA barcoding based on rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 sequences coupled with multiple-indicator quantification can be successfully applied to identify rhubarb species and distinguish among the three genuine rhubarbs, and this can provide a scientific foundation for rhubarb quality assurance.
