Helicase-dependent amplification is effective in distinguishing Asian ginseng from American ginseng

- For the first time HDA amplification was applied to identify herbal materials.
- Internal control was applied to ensure the quality of the concerned DNA region.
- Specific HDA was used to differentiate Panax ginseng from Panax quinquefolius.
- Commercial products including single drugs and a 4-herb formulation were tested.
- HDA is efficient to separate the two herbs and has the potential for on-site test.

This study describes for the first time the application of helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) to authenticate botanical species and processed products. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are consumed worldwide as functional food and health remedies. The two herbs share similar morphological appearance but have different pharmacological effects. In this work, a novel isothermal amplification mediated DNA method was applied to authenticate the two ginseng species. Internal control and P. ginseng specific primers were designed based on the ribosomal external transcribed spacer (ETS) region. The amplification results were confirmed by real-time monitoring, gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. The screened retail samples included dried ginseng root, ginseng powder, ginseng tea granules as well as a four-herb formulation. Our HDA protocol worked well on both purified DNA and crude water extract. In conclusion, HDA is a highly sensitive and specific approach for differentiating Asian ginseng from American ginseng and it has the potential for on-site authentication of herbal products.