Researchers at Chapman University have developed a novel combination of DNA testing techniques to authenticate ginseng supplements and combat adulteration. The study, published in the journal Food Control, found that nearly half of the 50 ginseng products tested contained undeclared plant species, including rice, wheat, avocado, and pumpkin. This groundbreaking research could help regulatory bodies and manufacturers improve quality control in the rapidly growing dietary supplement industry.
The Ginseng Supplement Adulteration Epidemic
Ginseng has been a long time favorite dietary supplement in the alternative health world. Nevertheless, there has long been a looming problem in the ginseng supplement market: adulteration. Over time, low-quality and even dangerous products have found their way onto the market with other manufacturers replacing real ginseng ingredients with cheap plant materials.
A team of researchers led by Rosalee Hellberg, Ph.D., an associate professor in Chapman University’s Food Science Program, have made a significant breakthrough to combat this growing problem. In a research letter in the same journal, scientists presented an alleged first-of-its-kind approach for assessing 50 commercially available ginseng products bought from Canada and Austria using DNA barcoding and multiplex PCR. Nearly half of the samples (49%) contained non-labeled plant species – rice, wheat, avocado and pumpkin.
Game Changing approach for detecting Adulteration
The combination of DNA barcoding and multiplex PCR by the researchers managed to be a very useful method for detecting such adulteration in ginseng supplements. They molecularly identified the presence of three widespread ginseng species (Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and Panax notoginseng) using DNA barcodetdna in their paper. In contrast, multiplex PCR enabled the simultaneous detection of multiple target species in one sample.
It was thanks to this novel mix of methods that the scientists were able to expose just how bad the problem of adulteration in the ginseng supplement market is. Approximately one in four products contained only the genuine ginseng species, 16% contained both genuine ginseng species and other undeclared species. A staggering 32% of samples comprised solely of undeclared species that alludes to nothing short of epidemic proportion of adulteration.
Addressing Adulteration: What It Means for Industry
These finding provide important insight for dietary supplement industry, especially ginseng supplement,which is estimated to be more than 17. The method of detection implemented in this study would be useful for regulating authorities and manufacturers to help determine the quality control and authenticity of ginseng products that are already being produced.
While in contrast to our expectations, Rosalee Hellberg (the senior author of the study) says,”We found that combining genetic methods gave us greater than individual method amplification, detecting plant species in most products. This is troubling since, although detection of undeclared species may occur, more testing would be necessary to determine the fuller extent of these potential adulterants.
The study highlights the need for stringent quality control and transparency within the dietary supplement industry. Advanced DNA testing applications will enable manufacturers and regulators to proactively tackle the adulteration problem, ensuring consumers receive the authentic, high-quality ginseng products they should have.
