(Press-News.org) Researchers at Murdoch University have used new DNA sequencing technology to reveal the animal and plant composition of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Some of the TCM samples tested contained potentially toxic plant ingredients, allergens, and traces of endangered animals.
"TCMs have a long cultural history, but today consumers need to be aware of the legal and health safety issues before adopting them as a treatment option," Dr Bunce, research leader and Murdoch University Australian Research Council Future Fellow, said.
The 15 TCM samples, seized by Australian border officials, in the form of powders, tablets, capsules, flakes, and herbal teas were audited using the DNA preserved in the samples. The results are published in the journal PLoS Genetics.
"In total we found 68 different plant families in the medicines – they are complex mixtures of species," Dr Bunce said. "Some of the TCMs contained plants of the genus Ephedra and Asarum. These plants contain chemicals that can be toxic if the wrong dosage is taken, but none of them actually listed concentrations on the packaging."
"We also found traces from trade restricted animals that are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, including the Asiatic black bear and Saiga antelope."
Until now it has been difficult to determine the biological origins of ingredients contained within TCMs because processing into pills and powders makes identification difficult.
PhD student Megan Coghlan, who is studying the application of DNA techniques in wildlife forensic applications, said the research shows that second-generation, high throughput sequencing is an efficient and cost-effective way to audit the species composition. "The approach has the ability to unravel complex mixtures of plant and animal products," Ms Coghlan said.
Further testing of TCMs would reveal the extent of the problem and make it easier for customs officials to identify the trade of endangered species. The increasing popularity of the medicines has seen the value of the industry increase to hundreds of millions of dollars per annum.
"We found multiple samples that contained DNA from animals listed as trade-restricted according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Legislation. Put simply, these TCMs are not legal," Ms Coghlan said.
Another concern is the mislabelling of TCMs, meaning consumers are unaware of the presence of some ingredients, including animal DNA and potential allergens such as soy or nuts.
"A product labelled as 100 per cent Saiga antelope contained considerable quantities of goat and sheep DNA," Dr Bunce said. "Another product, Mongnan Tianbao pills, contained deer and cow DNA, the latter of which may violate some religious or cultural strictures."
Incorrect labelling makes it difficult to enforce legislation and to prosecute cases of illegal trade. "It is hoped that this new approach to genetically audit medicinal products will bring about a new level of regulation to the area of complementary and alternative medicine," Dr Bunce said. "Auditing TCMs would assist in prosecuting individuals who seek to profit from the illegal trade in animal products."
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the International Wildlife Trade Section (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) supplied the seized TCM samples that were tested in this research. Dr Bunce and his team plan to expand the use of these new DNA tests to evaluate other herbal medicines.
INFORMATION:
IMAGE: Photographs of four TCM samples genetically audited in this study using high throughput sequencing. (A) Bear Bile crystals, (B) Saiga Antelope Horn powder, (C) Yatong Yili Wan capsules, and (D) Babao Ching Hsin San powder. Further images are available on request from the authors.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Funding for this research was provided by the Australian Research Council FT0991741) and Murdoch University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
CITATION: Coghlan ML, Haile J, Houston J, Murray DC, White NE, et al. (2012) Deep Sequencing of Plant and Animal DNA Contained within Traditional Chinese Medicines Reveals Legality Issues and Health Safety Concerns. PLoS Genet 8(4): e1002657. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002657
CONTACT: Dr Michael Bunce
Ancient DNA Laboratory and Wildlife Forensic Services
School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Murdoch University, Western Australia, 6150
Australia
Em: M.Bunce@murdoch.edu.au
Ph: +61 8 93607649
Mobile: +61 406 998025
website: http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~mbunce/
website: http://www.wildlifeforensics.com.au
Disclaimer
This press release refers to an upcoming article in PLoS Genetics. The release is provided by journal staff, or by the article authors and/or their institutions. Any opinions expressed in this release or article are the personal views of the journal staff and/or article contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLoS. PLoS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the releases and articles and your use of such information.
About PLoS Genetics
PLoS Genetics reflects the full breadth and interdisciplinary nature of genetics and genomics research by publishing outstanding original contributions in all areas of biology. All works published in PLoS Genetics are open access. Everything is immediately and freely available online throughout the world subject only to the condition that the original authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.
About the Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. For more information, visit http://www.plos.org.
END
Hollywoodsportsbook.eu, (formerly www.hollywoodsportsbook.com) a leading online entertainment gaming site since 1997, today announced its newest weekly promotion titled 7 Days/7 Plays where they will give back 7% of any losses incurred this week to qualifying clients.
Robert Evans, Hollywood's Director of Operations says "This week's new promotion is a lot of fun for players and easy to become eligible. Our players love cash back. A whole week to pick and choose who you like to wager on...Lose and still win."
Hollywood's clients only have to make seven different ...
(NEW YORK, NY, April 12, 2012) —Maintaining the right level of sugar in the blood is the responsibility not only of insulin, which removes glucose, but also of a hormone called glucagon, which adds glucose.
For decades, treatments for type II diabetes have taken aim at insulin, but a new study suggests that a better approach may be to target glucagon's sweetening effect.
The findings were published today in the online edition of Cell Metabolism.
"What we've found is a way to reduce glucagon's influence on blood sugar without the side effects of global glucagon repression," ...
As ocean temperatures rise, some species of corals are likely to succeed at the expense of others, according to a report published online on April 12 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology that details the first large-scale investigation of climate effects on corals.
"The good news is that, rather than experiencing wholesale destruction, many coral reefs will survive climate change by changing the mix of coral species as the ocean warms and becomes more acidic," said Terry Hughes of James Cook University in Australia. "That's important for people who rely on the rich ...
Last week, Land Rover celebrated its 25 years in North America in style at the New York International Auto Show, where its Range Rover Evoque was named World Car Design of the Year 2012. Recognizing design innovation and bold style, the accolade is the 101st global award presented to the Evoque, which is currently available at Land Rover dealerships.
The 2012 Evoque emerged from a group of 46 nominated vehicles to take the World Car Design of the Year title. Open only to vehicles introduced to a major market in 2011 or early 2012, the award was ultimately determined ...
A study published online on April 12 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology offers some news for parents: even toddlers have a tendency to follow the crowd. That sensitivity isn't unique to humans either; chimpanzees also appear more likely to pick up habits if "everyone else is doing it."
That conclusion comes from evidence that 2-year-olds and chimpanzees are more likely to copy actions when they see them repeated by three of their peers than if they see the same action done by one peer three times.
"I think few people would have expected to find that 2-year-olds ...
Expanding on previous research providing proof-of-principal that human stem cells can be genetically engineered into HIV-fighting cells, a team of UCLA researchers have now demonstrated that these cells can actually attack HIV-infected cells in a living organism.
The study, published April 12 in the journal PLoS Pathogens, demonstrates for the first time that engineering stem cells to form immune cells that target HIV is effective in suppressing the virus in living tissues in an animal model, said lead investigator Scott G. Kitchen, an assistant professor of medicine ...
Imagine a world where the rooftops and pavements of every urban area are resurfaced to increase the reflection of the Sun's light rays. Well, this is exactly what a group of Canadian researchers have done in an attempt to measure the potential effects against global warming.
In a study published today, 13 April, in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, researchers from Concordia University created this scenario to see what effect a global increase in surface reflectance would have on global temperature and our own carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
They ...
The UK health insurance brand Health-on-Line offers a fresh approach to medical insurance - with low cost, simple to understand policies that customers can easily tailor to their needs with a selection of add-ons that boost cover where needed.
Bournemouth based Health-on-Line -which was recently acquired by AXA PPP healthcare - provides affordable private medical insurance for individuals, with a special Business Priority Health package for enterprise customers - from sole traders right up to large group schemes.
Health-on-Line have taken a fresh look at medical cover, ...
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered a key tool that helps sperm and eggs develop exactly 23 chromosomes each. The work, which could lead to insights into fertility, spontaneous miscarriages, cancer and developmental disorders, is published April 13 in the journal Cell.
Healthy humans have 46 chromosomes, 23 from the sperm and 23 from the egg. An embryo with the wrong number of chromosomes is usually miscarried, or develops disorders such as Down's syndrome, which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.
During meiosis, the cell division ...
Who will win the big prize? Fans of the new reality series "Fashion Star" on NBC can hardly wait to find out. This unique design show offers merchandizing contracts to each week's winners, with a $6,000,000 contract as the grand prize. The winning designs are available the next day in stores, using the Lilitab iPad kiosk at select Macy's.
Supermodel Elle Macpherson hosts the program with a panel of fashion mentors: Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos. Viewers get instant gratification, and the hottest new styles, by being able to purchase their ...
