DNA-DNA Hybridization on Solid Support for the Authentication of Traditional Chinese Medicines

This invention provides a method and procedure for authentication of plant, animal and fungal materials used as traditional Chinese medicine. The method amplifies DNA from the materials to make labeled probes for hybridization to membranes which are blotted with dots of target sequences. A novel arrangement of the target sequences provides a clear, reliable and convenient way to identify traditional Chinese medicinal materials. In this novel method, small amount of fresh or dried biological samples can be authenticated. The application of this method in the authentication of common herbal tea plant materials from the genus Ilex is illustrated in detail.