• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.145-152
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• 2001

Dried parts of the herb medicines are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Heracleum moellendorffii cordata has often been sold instead of Aralia cordata in herbal medicine markets. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop the key for discrimination between them using the RAPD analysis and morphological characteristics. Thirty decarmer oligonucleotide primers were screened for the RAPD analysis, and four primers generated distinct RAPD markers specific to Aralia cordata, Angelica pubescens maxim f. biserrata, and Heracleum moellendorffii. The specific RAPD patterns generated by the selected primers were reproducible from dried materials. In comparison of morphological characteristics, Aralia cordata seems to be entirely developed in xylem fiber, but not developed in pith.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.329-337
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• 2010

'Angelicae Pubescentis Radix' (APR) is an important oriental medical preparation. In Korea, Aralia continentalis has been recognized as the source plant of APR. Aralia cordata, which is difficult to distinguish from A. continentalis, and Heracleum moellendorffii, which is frequently used in lieu of A. continentalis, are traded in Korean herbal markets. In contrast, in China, Angelica pubescens is recognized as the source plant of APR. In this study, we devised a method not only to discriminate A. contientalis from A. cordata, but also to discriminate both A. contientalis and A. cordata from H. moellendorffii and A. pubescens. Based on the discrepancy in the sequences of specific regions of ITS, we designed a Cont F/ Cont R primer set to amplify a 173 bp PCR band that appears only in A. continentalis. Additionally, we designed an Ara F/ Ara R primer set to amplify a 278 bp PCR band that appears in both A. continentalis and A. cordata. Using these primer sets and the ST R primer to confirm the PCR amplification results, we developed a simple multiplex PCR method for differentiating A. continentalis from A. cordata and to concurrently differentiate both A. continentalis and A. cordata from other APR herbs.