Table 1.
List of single-ingredient ground HMPs purchased from a major online retailer. The common name, expected scientific names (corresponds to accepted names from The Plant List http://www.theplantlist.org/, with alternative scientific name if on the label), botanical family, and indigenous culture/native distribution for constituent plant species are provided. Taxonomic identifications (ID) of HMPs from web BLAST (part of JM workflow) and from DNA Subway BLAST (database as of 4/10/17) are indicated for ITS2 DNA barcodes, and in some case for matK. “spp.” refers to multiple species within the genus. “*” refers to an HMP that has no corresponding sequence for the expected species in GenBank, though a closely related species is available. Twelve HMPs could not be barcoded in spite of multiple attempts. When BLAST results were ambiguous, phylogenetic analysis was performed to confirm taxonomic identity and is indicated with “P”, with the corresponding phylogeny in Supplement (Fig. S). Potentially contaminated/substituted HMPs (i.e. HMP not in the same family as expected species) are indicated with !!!
| Botanical family | Expected Species (scientific name) | Indigenous culture/ native distribution | Taxonomic ID based on web BLAST | Taxonomic ID based on DNA Subway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthaceae | fah talai jone (Andrographis paniculata) | Southeast Asia | ITS2: not barcoded; matK: Andrographis paniculata | ITS2: not barcoded; matK: Andrographis paniculata |
| Amaranthaceae | wormseed/ epazote (Dysphania ambrosioides= Chenopodium ambrosioides) !!! | Latin America (Central America, South America) | ITS2: Artemisia absinthium; matK: Artemisia absinthium (Asteraceae) | ITS2: Artemisia vulgaris; matK: Athanasia flexuosa (Asteraceae) |
| Annonaceae | graviola (Annona muricata*) | Latin America (Caribbean and Central America) | ITS2: Annonaceae sp. | ITS2: Goniothalamus cheliensis |
| Apiaceae | dong quai (Angelica sinensis) | Asia (China) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Apiaceae | gotu kola (Centella asiatica) | Tropical Asia | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Aquifoliaceae | yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) | Latin America (South America) | ITS2: Ilex paraguariensis | ITS2: Ilex sp. |
| Araliaceae | eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) | Northeastern Asia | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Araliaceae | Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng)!!! | East Asia | ITS2: Astragalus membranaceus=A. propinquus; matK: Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) | ITS2: Astragalus membranaceus=A. propinquus; matK: Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae) |
| Asparagaceae | shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) | Asia (Nepal, India, Sri Lanka) | matK (P, Fig S): Asparagus spp. | matK: Asparagus rubicundus |
| Asteraceae | yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius*) | Latin America (northern and central Andes) | ITS2: not barcoded; matK (P, Fig S): Smallanthus sp. | ITS2: not barcoded; matK: Rudbeckia hirta |
| Berberidaceae | horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.) | Asia (China) | ITS2: Epimedium spp. | ITS2: Epimedium wushanense |
| Bignoniaceae | pau d’ arco (Handroanthus heptaphyllus= Tabebuia heptaphylla) | Latin America (Central America, South America) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Brassicaceae | maca (Lepidium meyenii*) | Latin America (Peruvian Andes) | ITS2 (P, Fig S): Lepidium spp. | ITS2: Lepidium virginicum |
| Convolvulaceae | dodder (Cuscuta chinensis) | Asia (China) | ITS2 (P, Fig S): Cuscuta spp. | ITS2: Cuscuta australis |
| Fabaceae | Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)!!! | Asia (China) | ITS2: Plantago spp.; matK: Plantago ovata (Plantaginaceae) | ITS2: Plantago spp. matK: Plantago patagonica (Plantaginaceae) |
| Fabaceae | Butea superba | Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, India) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Lamiaceae | tulsi powder (Ocimum tenuiflorum=O. sanctum) | Asia (India) | ITS2 (P, Fig S): Ocimum basilicum/tenuiflorum | ITS2: Hyptidendron sp. |
| Lauraceae | Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) | Asia (Sri Lanka) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Meliaceae | neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) | Asia (India) | ITS2: Azadirachta indica | ITS2: Azadirachta indica |
| Moringaceae | moringa (Moringa oleifera) | Asia (India) | ITS2 (P, Fig S): Moringa oleifera/peregrina | ITS2: Moringa oleifera |
| Oleaceae | muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) | Latin America (South America) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Pedaliaceae | devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) | South Africa | ITS2; Harpagophytum spp. | ITS2: Harpagophytum zeyheri |
| Phyllanthaceae | chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri)!!! | Originally Asia (India) but now pantropical | ITS2: Desmodium canadense; matK: not barcoded (Fabaceae) | ITS2: Desmodium spp.; matK: not barcoded (Fabaceae) |
| Plantaginaceae | brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) | Asian wetlands | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Ranunculaceae | black cumin (Nigella sativa) | South and southwest Asia | ITS2: Nigella sativa | ITS2: Nigella damascena |
| Rubiaceae | cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) | Latin America (South and Central America) | ITS2: Uncaria tomentosa | ITS2: Uncaria lancifola |
| Rubiaceae | noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) | Southeast Asia | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Rubiaceae | yohimbe (Pausinystalia johimbe) | Western and central Africa | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Sapindaceae | guarana (Paullinia cupana*) | Latin America (Amazon basin) | ITS2: Paullinia sp. | ITS2: Paullinia pachycarpa |
| Simaroubaceae | tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) | Southeast Asia | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Solanaceae | ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) | Asia (India) | not barcoded | not barcoded |
| Zygophyllaceae | goat’s head (Tribulus terrestris) | Asian and African tropics | ITS2: Tribulus terrestris | ITS2: Tribulus terrestris |