Molecular Detection of Cashew Husk (Anacardium occidentale) Adulteration in Market Samples of Dry Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Abstract

Species-specific PCR primers were developed from intergenic spacer regions of 5S ribosomal RNA genes and used successfully in the detection of adulteration of cashew husk (Anacardium occidentale L.) in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] samples. This is the first report of detecting adulteration in tea using molecular tools. Application of this approach in detecting adulteration of other biological materials in tea, medicinal herbs and the composition of admixtures of ayurvedic herbs has been discussed.

References

• 1 Wight W. Nomenclature and classification of tea plant.  Nature (London). 1959;  83 1726-8
• 2 Chen Z. Global advances in tea science. Pharmacological functions of tea. In: Jain NK, editor Aravali Books International (P) Ltd New Delhi,; 1999: pp. 333-8
• 3 Israel A H, Issar R K. Adulterated drugs and their standardization.  Ind J Pharm. 1973;  35 208-9
• 4 Garg S. Substitute and adulterant plants. Appendix -XIII. Substitutes and adulterants of tea. In: Periodical Experts Book Agency New Delhi,; 1992: pp. 136-2
• 5  Anonymous. Loose tea mostly adulterated. The Assam Reviews and Tea News 1999-I 87: 28-9
• 6  Anonymous. Racket in tea adulterated with colored hide un-earthed. Punjab Kesri 1999-II; 22 july
• 7 Sudershan R V, Bhat R V. Changing profiles of food adulteration: perception of food analysts.  J Food Sci Technol. 1995;  32 368-2
• 8 Singh M, Dhiman B, Ahuja P S. Isolation and PCR amplification of genomic DNA from market samples of dry tea.  Plant Mol Biol Report. 1999;  17 171-8
• 9 Singh D, Singh M. Organization of 5S ribosomal RNA genes in tea (Camellia sinensis).  Genome. 2001;  44 143-6