Characterization of Echinacea species and detection of possible adulterations by RAPD analysis

In this report we describe the discrimination of all three pharmaceutically relevant Echinacea species by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) anal ysis. Genomic DNA prepared from either fresh root material or dried roots w as probed in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using several arbitrary prime rs. Distinct banding patterns were obtained for E. purpurea, E. angustifoli a var. angustifolia, and E. pallido, respectively. Individual Echinacea dru gs could be identified within mixtures containing variable amounts of indiv idual drugs. We propose to use RAPD analysis as a rapid and reliable test f or proving the identity of Echinacea root drugs.