LAUSR

BACKGROUND Due to a similar appearance between edible and poisonous plants, a total of 42 patients ingesting poisonous plants have occurred from 2013 to 2017 in Korea. We developed species-specific primer sets of three of edible and poisonous plants sets (Ligularia fischeri& Caltha palustris, Artemisia annua & Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and Hemerocallis fulva & Veratrum maackii) for distinguishing both plants using real-time PCR assay. RESULTS The efficiencies of developed primer sets were ranged from 87.8%-102.0%. The developed primer sets have significant correlation coefficient values between the Ct values and log DNA concentration for their target species (R2 >0.99). Cut-off line as the crossing point values of LOQ of the target species were determined, and all non-target species were amplified later than the cut-off cycles. Then the effectiveness of developed primer sets was evaluated using commercial food products and digested samples with simulated gastric juice. CONCLUSIONS All developed species-specific primer sets were able to detect target DNA successfully in commercial food products and the digested samples. Therefore, the developed species-specific primer sets in this study would be useful tools for distinguishing between poisonous plants and edible plants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.