A strategy for trade monitoring and substitution of the organs of threatened animals.

Luo JY, Yan D, Song JY, Zhang D, Xing XY, Han YM, Yang MH, Dong XP, Peng C, Chen SL, Xiao XH.

Abstract

The use of threatened animals as a source of traditional medicines is accelerating the extinction of such species and imposes great challenges to animal conservation. In this study, we propose a feasible strategy for the conservation of threatened medicinal animals that combines trade monitoring and the search for substitutes. First, DNA barcoding provides a powerful technique for monitoring the trade of animal species, which helps in restricting the excessive use and illegal trade of such species. Second, pharmacological tests have been adopted to evaluate the biological equivalence of threatened and domestic animals; based on such testing, potential substitutes are recommended. Based on a review of threatenedanimal species and their substitutes, we find that the search for substitutes deserves special attention; however, this work is far from complete. These results may be of great value for the conservation of threatened animals and maintaining the heritage of traditional medicine.

Sci Rep. 2013 Oct 31;3:3108. doi: 10.1038/srep03108.