DNA metabarcoding to unravel plant species composition in herbal medicines on the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) of Thailand

Traditional medicines are widely traded across the globe and received considerable attention in the recent past, with expectations of a greater demand in the future. However, there are increasing global concerns over admixture, which can affect the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicinal products. In this study, we aimed to use DNA metabarcoding to identify 39 Thai herbal products on the Thai National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and assess species composition and admixture. Among the products, 24 samples were in-house-prepared formulations, and 15 samples were registered formulations. In our study, DNA metabarcoding analysis using ITS2 and rbcL barcode regions was employed to identify herbal ingredients mentioned in the products. The nuclear region, ITS2, was able to identify herbal ingredients in the products at the genus and family levels in 51% and 71% of cases, respectively. The chloroplast gene, rbcL, enabled genus- and family-level identifications in 58% and 73% of cases, respectively. In addition, plant species were detected in larger numbers in registered herbal products than in in-house-prepared formulations. The level of fidelity raises concerns about the reliability of the products. The present study highlights that the DNA metabarcoding method is a useful analytical tool when combined with advanced chemical techniques for the identification of plant species in highly processed and multi-ingredient herbal products.