Molecular authentication of Panax ginseng species by RAPD analysis and PCR-RFLP

In order to develop convenient and reproducible methods for the identificat ion of ginseng drugs at a DNA level, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RA PD) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses we re applied within Panax species. To authenticate Panax ginseng among ginsen g populations, RAPD analysis was carried out using a 20 mer-random primer. The similarity coefficients among the DNA of ginseng plants analyzed were l ow, ranging from 0.197 to 0.491. In addition, by using PCR-RFLP analysis, v ery different fingerprints were obtained within Korean ginseng plants. Thes e results suggest that these methods are able to authenticate the concerned Panax species. Broader application of this approach to authenticate other morphologically similar medicinal materials is rationalized.