Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40356966›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in pharmacology2025

DNA metabarcoding unveils authenticity and adulteration in commercial Chinese polyherbal preparations: Renshen Jianpi Wan as a critical case study.

Shilin Zhou, Ting Zhou, Yanmei Zhang, Bingqian Yang, Junmei Niu, Weixian Li, Yiyi Weitu, Faming Long, Zhenwen Liu, Jing Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Rapid authentication of endangeredFrontiers in plant science · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shilin ZhouSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Ting ZhouSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Yanmei ZhangSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Bingqian YangSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Junmei NiuSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Weixian LiSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Yiyi WeituSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Faming LongSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Zhenwen LiuYunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming, China.
Jing ZhouSchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Ensuring quality and authenticity of traditional medicines is crucial, particularly for multi-ingredient formulations like commercial Chinese polyherbal preparations (CCPPs). This study aims to authenticate Renshen Jianpi Wan (RSJPW), a classical CCPP composed of 11 prescribed botanical drugs, using DNA metabarcoding to overcome challenges in species-level identification of processed biological ingredients. Methods: We analyzed 56 commercial RSJPW products from different manufacturers and production batches, alongside eight laboratory-prepared reference samples serving as authentic controls. A dual-marker protocol combining ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions was employed, with optimized DNA extraction and PCR protocols to mitigate degradation issues. Results: Detection rates varied across samples, with the highest detection being 10 out of 11 prescribed ingredients in a single sample. The key fungal ingredient Conclusions: This study establishes a systematic framework for molecular authentication of complex herbal formulations, providing technical support for reliable identification of botanical drugs. While DNA metabarcoding offers valuable insights into CCPP composition, authentication of heavily processed ingredients remains a significant technical limitation. The integration with complementary analytical methods such as metabolomics could provide more comprehensive quality assessment in future studies, demonstrating the necessity of multi-analytical approaches in ensuring the authenticity of traditional medicine.

Indexed as

commercial Chinese polyherbal preparationsDNA metabarcodingITS2PSBA-TRNHquality control

Identifiers

PMID40356966
PMCPMC12066679

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.