Ethnopharmacological Investigation and Rapid Authentication of Mongolian Patent Medicines Digeda

Objective To investigate Mongolian medicinal plants called Digeda and the prescriptions in Inner Mongolia region and to establish a molecular method for authentication of Digeda Mongolian patent medicines （MPMs）. Methods A field investigation was conducted on traditional uses of Digeda. After interviewed traditional healers in Mongolian, ethnopharmacological information of Digeda prescriptions was recorded in detail, including names, compositions, and traditional uses. And the total DNA from 10 MPMs has been amplified by three pairs of specific primers. Specific PCR products were further identified by sequence alignment with the known sequences already submitted in GenBank or own sequences. Results Fifteen Digeda plants and 29 Digeda prescriptions with their ethnopharmacological knowledge were collected. Ten MPM samples containing Lomatogonium rotatum, Viola philippica, and Corydalis bungeana were successfully evidenced by PCR with specific bands as raw materials. Conclusion Digeda should be further investigated in ethnopharmacology, which is a fundamental step toward developing efficacious natural drugs for various diseases. PCR amplification of specific allele is an easy and economical method, which can be used to identify highly processed MPMs and will assist in monitoring their qualities and legalities.