Authentication of Herbal Medicines Bao ginseng and Bo Chinh Ginseng Using Morphology, Nuclear Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) Markers

Abstract

Bao ginseng (Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz) Merr.), a plant from the Malvaceae family, is a significant traditional herbal medicine in Vietnam. To establish geographical indications for products from Bao ginseng, it is necessary to clarify the scientific and practical basis related to the uniqueness of the product. This study aimed to compare Bao ginseng and Bo Chinh ginseng, which have many similarities in morphology and function (collected in Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri, and Kon Tum), on the morphological characteristics and the genetic difference using the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region and SSR markers to verify their species identification. Morphological results show that they are similar in root shape and color, leaf arrangement structure, and flower and fruit formation. However, they differ in average plant stature, foliar configuration, and floral pigmentation. The nuclear rDNA ITS2 gene sequences analysis revealed that all samples of Bao Thanh Hoa ginseng, Bo Chinh Thanh Hoa ginseng, Bo Chinh Quang Tri ginseng, and Bo Chinh Kon Tum ginseng were identical at 100% and belong to the same species, Abelmoschus sagittifolius. Out of 17 SSR markers, none displayed any polymorphism among the varieties studied. However, multiplex PCR with two primers (Okra 64 and Okra 165) was identified as effective for differentiating Bao ginseng Thanh Hoa from the Bo Chinh variants across various ecological regions. This study is an important reference to test the authenticity of Bao ginseng and register geographical indications for Bao Thanh Hoa ginseng products in the future.