Genetic and chemical diversity of Eleutherococcus senticosus and molecular identification of Siberian ginseng by PCR-RFLP analysis based on chloroplast trnK intron sequence

Siberian ginseng (SG), the rhizome and root of Eleutherococcus senticosus, has been used as a tonic and anti-fatigue agent in northeastern Asia from ancient time. In recent years, SG has been becoming fairly popular as dietary supplements and health foods worldwide. In order to establish a convenient and sensitive method for authentication, chloroplast trnK intron sequences of 6 Eleutherococcus species were determined and compared. Genetic polymorphism, representing by 14 types of trnK intron sequence, in E. senticosus was observed. However, characteristic nucleotide markers stable within this species enabled clear discrimination of it from other congeners. A PCR-RFLP method was further developed, which was demonstrated to be efficient for authentication of crude drugs as well as health foods. Quantitative evaluation of three main bioactive constituents indicated chemical diversity in E. senticosus collected from northeast China and the results suggested good producing areas of SG. The chemical data clearly revealed that E. sessliflorus was unsuitable to be used as SG.