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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

From genes to greens: A review on novel perspectives for authentication of herbals

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.5855
Submitted
16 October 2024
Published
21-06-2026 — Updated on 01-07-2026
Versions

Abstract

In medicinal plant research, numerous applications have been established to harness the phytochemicals derived from these plants, which have biological importance, particularly in drug development. Proper plant identification (authentication) prior to research is fundamental to scientific accuracy, safety, therapeutic efficacy and importantly, conservation. Authentication provides a precise and trustworthy method for determining the plant species used in herbal medicines, guaranteeing consumer safety, especially when dealing with combinations or closely resembling plants that could be mistakenly substituted, making it vital for quality control in the herbal industry. There is a myriad of plant identification techniques, ranging from basic morphological methods to advanced molecular approaches encompassing DNA sequencing, nucleic acid amplification (PCR: polymerase chain reaction), high-throughput sequencing, metabolic profiling, etc. DNA-based identification practices outperform traditional methods, such as macro/microscopic examination. They offer higher accuracy and specificity, enabling reliable identification of herbal species even from processed or powdered samples. This review examines various aspects of authentication procedures, with an emphasis on molecular biology techniques and offers a summary of approaches for assessing the reliability of herbal species due to the high rates of adulteration and substitution. This article comprises the pros and cons of molecular techniques extensively used in authentication. The principles and applications of key techniques are explored, with special attention given to their strengths and limitations, taking factors such as accuracy, sensitivity, cost and ease of implementation into account. Moreover, state-of-the-art techniques and innovative approaches in molecular plant identification are highlighted, encompassing the integration of bioinformatics tools and the progression of multiplex assays.

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