none 10.31254/phyto.2026.15109 BioMed Research Publishers BioMed Research Publishers 16195 192875619 316921 20260407013135159 10.31254 2026-04-07T01:31:38Z 2026-04-07T01:31:36Z 0 The Journal of Phytopharmacology J Phytopharmacol 2320480X 10.31254/phyto https://phytopharmajournal.com/ 03 30 2026 15 1 Kalpana Kumari Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Kalindi College University of Delhi-110008, India https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4288-9730 The conservation of biodiversity has emerged as one of the most crucial scientific and societal issues of the 21st century, due to rapid habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and the unsustainable use of natural resources. The correct identification of species is crucial for effective conservation planning, ecological research, and environmental management. Traditional taxonomic approaches, which mainly depend on morphological features, can be time consuming, needs specialized knowledge, and may find difficult to differentiate between cryptic species or various life stages. In this scenario, DNA barcoding has appeared as an effective molecular tool that greatly improves biodiversity evaluation and conservation efforts. DNA barcoding is the process of identifying species by comparing sequences to reference databases using a brief, standardized section of DNA, most frequently the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene in mammals, rbcL and matK in plants, and ITS in fungi. Even from little or deteriorated samples, this method allows for quick, precise, and economical species identification. Its use has revolutionized the documentation and monitoring of biodiversity. DNA barcoding continues to develop with advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatics, despite certain constraints, such as insufficient reference libraries and difficulties in particular taxonomic groupings. It is an essential tool for contemporary conservation biology because of its increasing accessibility and dependability. 03 30 2026 70 73 1 10.31254/biomed-crossmark-policy www.biomedresearch.org false 10.31254/phyto.2026.15109 https://phytopharmajournal.com/articles/abstracts/884/year=2026&vol=15&issue=1