Biol. Pharm. Bull. 30(1) 173—175 (2007)

medicine for the relief of diabetes symptoms, fever, vomiting, and non-specific intoxication. In previous editions of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, both the roots of Pueraria lobata (WILLD.) OHWI and Pueraria thomsonii BENTH. are treated as Radix Puerariae. However, they have different chemical profiles and biological activities. The roots of P. lobata are often used for clinical prescriptions and the roots of P. thomsonii are often used as dietary supplements. In the latest edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the roots of P. lobata and P. thomsonii are listed as Radix Puerariae Lobatae and Radix Puerariae Thomsonii, respectively. Pueraria montana (LOUR.) MERR. is a closely related species to P. lobata and P. thomsonii. The taxonomy of P. lobata, P. thomsonii and P. montana is controversial since they have similar morphologic characteristics which are difficult to distinguish. Ohashi and Tateishi treated P. montana as a distinct species, while P. lobata and P. thomsonii as two subspecies of P. lobata. Chen et al. treated P. thomsonii as a distinct species, while P. lobata and P. montana were treated as two varieties under P. lobata. However, some taxonomists considered P. lobata, P. thomsonii and P. montana as three varieties. In the present study, the DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 5S gene spacer were used to examine the relationship between P. lobata, P. thomsonii and P. Montana, and to characterize P. lobata and P. thomsonii for medical authentication. MATERIALS AND METHODS