Traces of endangered animals including tiger and rhinoceros have been found in traditional Chinese medicines sold worldwide, an Adelaide pathologist says.
DNA has been found in more than 25 popular products, and includes traces of snow leopard in an arthritis treatment for sale in South Australia, University of Adelaide study author Professor Roger Byard says.
"We thought herbal products would contain herbs. I think that was our naivety. When we found dog and cat, we thought this could just be contaminant, this can be explained. But to find endangered species was quite alarming," he told AAP on Thursday.
"Rhinoceros horn is used to `cure' disorders ranging from cerebral hemorrhage to AIDS, selling for as much as $US50,000 ($A69,640) per kilogram.
"The powered bones of tigers and mole rats are used to treat arthritis; shell extracts of freshwater turtles are used to treat cancer."
Prof Byard said it was hard to tell just how many people were unwittingly consuming endangered animals on their quest for health - and not just in developing countries where such products were common.
"Our feeling is if can turn up in one of 26 (traditional Chinese) medications in Adelaide, in bigger cities like Sydney or Melbourne, this is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.
Prof Byard also said authorities often overlooked the role of traditional medicines in the illegal wildlife trade.
"Clearly any controls on the import and sale of such a preparation have failed. It is also unclear what steps are taken by authorities once such a preparation is bought to their attention," he said.
"This illegal and very damaging trade needs to stop. However, unfortunately, for a number of species, it may already be too late."
