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Breakthrough in Ginseng Supplement Authentication
Researchers from Chapman University, led by associate professor Rosalee Hellberg, have made strides in combating the issue of adulteration in dietary supplements, particularly ginseng products. Their recent study reveals alarming findings about the integrity of these supplements on the market.
Titled “Use of a Novel Combination of Multiplex PCR and DNA Barcoding in Assessing Authenticity of Ginseng Products,” the research is published in the journal Food Control. This study investigated 50 commercial ginseng products, uncovering the serious problem of fraudulent substitutions that could jeopardize consumer safety.
Ginseng supplements are particularly susceptible to fraud, where less expensive and potentially harmful plant materials are used as substitutes for genuine ginseng. The novel testing techniques employed by the researchers revealed undeclared plant species in nearly half of the samples analyzed. Specifically, 48% of the ginseng supplements contained DNA from unexpected species such as rice, wheat, avocado, and pumpkin. Of the samples tested, only 25% contained the expected ginseng species, while 16% comprised a mix of both authentic and undeclared species, and a striking 32% contained solely undeclared species.
The implications of these findings extend beyond consumer health; they potentially offer a valuable tool for regulatory agencies and manufacturers aiming to enhance quality control within the dietary supplement sector. Given that the global ginseng supplement market is anticipated to reach $17.9 billion by 2030, ensuring product authenticity is becoming ever more critical.
Diane Kim, who spearheaded this research as part of her master’s thesis in food science, employed a comparative analysis of various genetic authentication methods to improve the identification accuracy of ginseng supplements. Her work is pivotal in progressing the field of supplement authentication.
The study focused on three well-known ginseng species that are frequently utilized for their therapeutic properties: Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and Panax notoginseng. Authenticating herbal supplements presents numerous challenges, including the degradation of DNA, variations in the concentration of ginseng within products, and the mingling of ginseng root with other parts of the plant. To tackle these issues, the research team combined DNA barcoding and multiplex PCR methods.
Despite the advancements made, approximately 28% of the samples could not be identified through either technique employed. This uncertainty aligns with potential factors like DNA degradation or interference from other materials in the supplements, highlighting that a lack of identification does not inherently confirm the absence of a species.
The researchers advocate for future studies that would integrate DNA-based methods with chemical analyses to refine the detection, thereby facilitating a clearer quantification of undisclosed adulterants. As noted by Rosalee Hellberg, the combination of genetic techniques proved to be significantly more effective than relying on either approach alone, indicating that while the presence of undeclared species is alarming, further examinations are necessary to assess the extent of these adulterants.
More information: Diane Y. Kim et al, Use of a novel combination of multiplex PCR and DNA barcoding in assessing authenticity of ginseng products, Food Control (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2024.110893
This study emphasizes the vital need for rigorous testing and regulatory oversight in the booming dietary supplement market to protect consumers and ensure product integrity.
Source
phys.org