Molecular authentication of the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant, Meconopsis impedita

Abstract

The root of Meconopsis impedita is one of the most widely used traditional Tibetan medicinal plants. However, it is often confused with Meconopsis racemosa whose roots may be used as a substitute. To establish a DNA polymorphism-based assay for the identification of M. impedita, the chloroplast rps16 intron region of 11 accessions representing M. impedita and M. racemosa were sequenced and analyzed. Based on the unique sequence of the rps16 intron region between the two species, one pair of species-specific primers was designed and used for the rapid PCR identification of M. impedita.

Key words: Meconopsis impedita, the rps16 intron, species-specific PCR, molecular authentication.