TY - JOUR
T1 - Authenticating the use of dried seahorses in the traditional Chinese medicine market in Taiwan using molecular forensics
AU - Chang, Chia Hao
AU - Jang-Liaw, Nian Hong
AU - Lin, Yeong-Shin
AU - Fang, Yi Chiao
AU - Shao, Kwang Tsao
PY - 2013/9
Y1 - 2013/9
N2 - Seahorse, which has a unique appearance and exhibits male pregnancy, is a useful component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the growing demand for TCM, vast amounts of seahorses are harvested from the wild every year and traded internationally. This study investigated 58 dried seahorse samples collected from 23 Chinese herbal medicine stores across Taiwan using molecular forensics. Results showed that eight seahorse species were present in the Taiwan TCM market. Among them, Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) has an endangered status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, while the West African seahorse (Hippocampus algiricus), tiger tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes), thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix), great seahorse (Hippocampus feelloggi), yellow seahorse (Hippocampus feuda), hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus), and three-spot seahorse (Hippocampus trimaculatus) have vulnerable status.
AB - Seahorse, which has a unique appearance and exhibits male pregnancy, is a useful component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the growing demand for TCM, vast amounts of seahorses are harvested from the wild every year and traded internationally. This study investigated 58 dried seahorse samples collected from 23 Chinese herbal medicine stores across Taiwan using molecular forensics. Results showed that eight seahorse species were present in the Taiwan TCM market. Among them, Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) has an endangered status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, while the West African seahorse (Hippocampus algiricus), tiger tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes), thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix), great seahorse (Hippocampus feelloggi), yellow seahorse (Hippocampus feuda), hedgehog seahorse (Hippocampus spinosissimus), and three-spot seahorse (Hippocampus trimaculatus) have vulnerable status.
KW - Iucn red list
KW - Molecular forensics
KW - Seahorse
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885639650&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.07.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jfda.2013.07.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84885639650
SN - 1021-9498
VL - 21
SP - 310
EP - 316
JO - Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
JF - Journal of Food and Drug Analysis
IS - 3
ER -