identification of crocus sativus and its adulterants from chinese markets by using dna barcoding technique

background: saffron (crocus sativus l.) is a common but very expensive herbal medicine. as an important traditional medicine, it has an outstanding effect in treating irregular and painful menstruation. recently, the over-demand tendency of saffron results in an unusual phenomenon in the medicinal markets. adulterants and saffron-like substitutes are intentionally mixed into medicinal markets and pharmacies or online stores, affecting drug safety and food quality.objectives: our study aimed to identify saffron from its adulterants via dna barcoding. materials and methods: samples (13 saffron + 4 others containing carthamus tinctorius or chrysanthemum x morifolium) obtained from 12 different provinces of china. through dna barcoding, samples were compared using three candidate markers, trnh-psba, rbcl-a and its2.results: trnh-psba and rbcl-a were capable of distinguishing different accessions. its2 could identify samples even at intra-specific level. according to these three barcodes, four samples were identified saffron-like substitutes.conclusions: the adulterant rate in chinese markets reaches as high as 33.33% that may cause health risks and further may reduce saffron efficacy once is being used as herbal remedy. in order to make a distinction between c. sativus with other genera as adulterants, dna barcoding is suggested.