HPLC and DNA barcoding profiles for identification of the selected twelve species and its application for detecting prohibited aphrodisiac products.

Aphrodisiac herbal products originated from various plants including species. In Thai folklore, Wall. and (L.) DC. have long been consumed and utilized for their aphrodisiac properties. Consumption of these plants can lead to serious adverse effects caused by l-dopa. The plants have been legally banned for use as foods, dietary supplements, or nutraceuticals by the FDA of several countries. To protect consumers, methods for the identification of illicit plants or herbal products are needed. This study aimed to identify the selected twelve species and examine the aphrodisiac herbal products containing and by using HPLC analysis of l-dopa coupled with DNA barcoding profiles of ITS, K, L, and H-A. The results showed that l-dopa could be found not only in the seeds of and but also in associated allied species. Then, a DNA barcode was introduced to support in HPLC profiling to identify the plants. DNA barcodes of twelve species found in Thailand were established and used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. In this study, ITS2 sequences showed the highest interspecific variability and could be used to differentiate all species. The results of ITS2 sequence coupled with HPLC analysis revealed that all the purchased aphrodisiac products originated from only. Therefore, the integration of HPLC analysis and DNA barcoding profile was an efficient method for the identification of prohibited species for safety monitoring of herbal supplements and protecting customer safety. Regulatory agencies should raise awareness and restrain the use of these commercial products.