DNA testing of traditional Chinese medicines has shown that many contain traces of endangered animals.
Scientists who analysed 15 samples of powders, pills,
capsules and herbal teas found "multiple" examples of banned animal
ingredients.
Some of the samples also contained potentially toxic plant compounds and allergy triggers. The traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) studied were among products seized by Australian border officials.
Dr
Michael Bunce, from Murdoch University in Western Australia, said: "In
total we found 68 different plant families in the medicines - they are
complex mixtures of species. Some of the TCMs
contained plants of the genus Ephedra and Asarum. These plants contain
chemicals that can be toxic if the wrong dosage is taken, but none of
them actually listed concentrations on the packaging.
"We
also found traces from trade-restricted animals that are classified as
vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, including the Asiatic
black bear and Saiga antelope."
Until now it has been difficult to determine the biological origins of TCMs processed into pills and powders.
The
new research, published in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics, used high-throughput DNA sequencing to unravel the complex
mixtures of plant and animal ingredients.
