Authentication of snakes used in Chinese medicine by sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprints characteristic of thethree snakes Zaocys dhumnades, Agkistrodonacutus and Bungarus multicinctus multicinctuswere generated using primer OPF-14. Z. dhumnades is anendangered species included in the Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and A. acutus,B. multicinctus multicinctus and Z. dhumnades are listed inthe Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The species-specific polymorphic bands Aa specific toA. acutus, Bmm specific to B. multicinctusmulticinctus and Zd specific to Z. dhumnadeswere identified and the sequences of these bands were used to design polymerasechain reaction primers for sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR)analysis of the three snakes. A multiplex SCAR analysis was established toauthenticate the snakes used in Chinese medicine reliably and efficiently.