• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.474-480
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• 2024

Background: Recent years have witnessed increasing interest in the high amount of ocotillol-type saponin in Panax vietnamensis, particularly in relation to majonoside R2 (MR2). This unique 3%-5% MR2 content impart Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs with unique pharmacological activities. However, in the commercial domain, unauthentic species have infiltrated and significantly hindered access to the authentic, efficacious variety. Thus, suitable analytical techniques for distinguishing authentic Vietnamese ginseng species from others is becoming increasingly crucial. Therefore, MR2 is attracting considerable attention as a target requiring effective management measures. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by producing monoclonal antibodies against MR2 (mAb 16E11). The method was thoroughly validated, and the potential of the immunoassay was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy. Furthermore, ELISA was applied to the assessment of the MR2 concentrations of various Panax spp., including Korean, American, and Japanese ginsengs. Results and conclusions: An icELISA using mAb 16E11 exhibited linearity between 3.91 and 250 ng/mL of MR2, with detection and quantification limits of 1.53 and 2.50 - 46.6 ng/mL, respectively. Based on this study, the developed icELISA using mAb 16E11 could be a valuable tool for analyzing MR2 level to distinguish authentic Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs from unauthentic ones. Furthermore, the analysis of the samples demonstrated that Ngoc Linh and Lai Chau ginsengs exhibit a notably higher MR2 value than all other Panax spp. Thus, MR2 might be their ideal marker compound, and various bioactivities of this species should be explored.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2008

It is estimated that over 80% of deer antlers produced in the world are consumed in Korea. However, mislabeling or fraudulent replacement of costly antlers with cheaper ones is one of the most common problems in the domestic antler market. Therefore, there is a great need for the development of technology to identify species of antlers. This study was carried out to develop an accurate and reliable method for the identification and authentication of species or subspecies of antlers using DNA sequence analysis and comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome band D-loop region genes among antlers of five deer species, Cervus elaphus sibericus, Cervus elaphus canadensis, Cervus nippon, Cervus elaphus bactrianus and Rangifer tarandus. A variable region of cytochrome band D-loop genes was amplified using PCR with specifically designed primers and sequenced directly. The cytochrome band D-loop region genes showed different DNA sequences between the species of antlers and thus it is possible to differentiate between species on the basis of sequence variation. To distinguish between reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) antlers and other deer antlers, PCR amplicons of the cytochrome b gene were digested with the restriction enzymes NlaIV and TaqI, respectively, which generates a species-specific DNA profile of the reindeer. In addition, samples of 32 sliced antlers labeled Cervus elaphus sibericus from commercial markets were collected randomly and the mt DNA D-loop region of these antler samples was sequenced. Among the antler samples investigated, only 62.5% were from Cervus elaphus sibericus, and others were from Cervus elaphus bactrianus (25.0%), elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Our results suggest that DNA sequencing of mt DNA and PCR-RFLP methods using NlaIV and TaqI enzymes are useful for the identification and discrimination of deer antler species by routine analysis.