Gochnatia polymorpha: macro-and microscopic identification of leaf and stem for pharmacognostic quality control

Gochnatia polymorpha (Less.) Cabrera, Asteraceae, is popularly known as cambará and cambara-de-folha-grande in Brazil. It is used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Pharmacological studies revealed anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial and antiviral activities. The goal of this paper was to carry out morphological and anatomical studies in order to describe the aerial parts of G. polymorpha. The botanical material was collected, fixed, and prepared according to usual light and scanning electron microtechniques. The leaves are simple, oblong-lanceolate to elliptical-lanceolate in form with mucronate acute apex, rounded base, entire or slightly toothed margin, and short petiole. In transection, the epidermis is uniseriate along the leaf blade. A subepidermal layer next to the adaxial side is present. Anomocytic stomata are seen only on the abaxial surface. Capitate glandular trichomes and T-shaped non-glandular trichomes occur on the leaves. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and minor collateral vascular bundles are enclosed by a sheath of thick walled parenchymatic cells. The midrib is biconvex and the petiole has a circular shape. The epidermis of the stem consists of a single layer of cells with glandular and nonglandular trichomes. The vascular cylinder shows typical structure and perivascular fiber caps are next to the phloem.

Centrolobium tomentosum: macro-and microscopic diagnosis of the leaf and stem

Centrolobium tomentosum Guillemin ex Benth., Fabaceae, known as "araribá-rosa", is a large tree that is widespread throughout Brazil. The bark of its stem is used in folk medicine as an astringent and the leaves are employed as a poultice for wounds and bruises. The aim of this study was to contribute to the pharmacognostic quality control of this medicinal species through a macro- and microscopic diagnosis of its leaves and stems. Mature leaves and young stems were collected at Embrapa (Colombo, PR) and analyzed using standard microtechniques. The leaves are opposite or alternate, compound, imparipinnate, oblong-lanceolate and hypostomatic with paracytic stomata. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and the midrib is biconvex with a collateral vascular bundle in a circular arrangement. The petiolule is circular and its vascular system is composed of two major vascular bundles in the middle, with smaller bundles between them. The rachis has a structure similar to the petiole, and these parts have a sclerenchymatic sheath shaped in multiple arcs, which surrounds a collateral vascular bundle that is centrally located. The stem has a uniseriate epidermis with peripheral phellogen and a sclerenchymatic sheath composed of many arcs, which surrounds the phloem. The stems and leaves also have non-glandular and glandular trichomes, phenolic compounds and idioblasts made of calcium oxalate crystals. This manuscript has an important role in the morpho-anatomical diagnosis of the Brazilian flora.

Morpho-anatomical study of the leaf and stem of pau-alecrim: Holocalyx balansae

Holocalyx balansae Micheli belongs to the Fabaceae family and is called pau-alecrim in Portuguese. In folk medicine, it is indicated to treat heart, hepatic and digestive upsets, as well as being considered anti-septic and diaphoretic. This work aimed to study the morpho-anatomy of the leaf and stem of this native medicinal species, in order to increase knowledge of the Brazilian flora and to contribute to pharmacognostic quality control. Samples of mature leaves and young stems were fixed and either sectioned free-hand or embedded in glycol-methacrylate and sectioned by microtome, then stained. Microchemical tests and scanning electron microscopy were also performed. The leaves are alternate, compound and paripinnate, and the leaflets have a lanceolate shape. Anomocytic and anisocytic stomata are found exclusively on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and the midrib, in cross-section, is flat on both sides, showing one collateral vascular bundle, encircled by a sclerenchymatic and crystalliferous sheath. The rachis and petiole present a collateral vascular bundle with a centric arrangement. The stem presents phellogen localized superficially. In the vascular cylinder, there is a sclerenchymatic sheath and continuous phloem and xylem cylinders, both traversed by narrow rays. Prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are present in the leaf and stem.

Morfoanatomia de folha e caule de Genipa americana L., Rubiaceae / Leaf and stem morpho-anatomy of Genipa americana L., Rubiaceae

Genipa americana L., conhecida como jenipapo, é uma Rubiaceae nativa do Brasil e as suas folhas são utilizadas pela população como antidiarreico e febrífugo, e o caule como anti-hemorrágico, contra luxações e contusões. Com o objetivo de caracterizar macro e microscopicamente folhas adultas e caules jovens para o controle de qualidade farmacognóstico, essa planta medicinal foi analisada segundo a metodologia clássica de morfoanatomia vegetal. Genipa americana apresenta folhas simples, opostas, de formato obovado a oblanceolado e pecíolos curtos. A epiderme foliar é uniestratificada e revestida por cutícula delgada e levemente estriada. Os estômatos são paracíticos e restritos à superfície abaxial. Há tricomas tectores uni e pluricelulares predominantemente na superfície abaxial. O mesofilo é dorsiventral. Em secção transversal, a nervura central é plano-convexa e o pecíolo é circular, ambos apresentando um feixe vascular colateral em disposição cilíndrica e outros menores. O caule possui felogênio localizado nas camadas subepidérmicas, colênquima anelar e um cilindro floemático externo ao de xilema, sendo ambos percorridos por raios parenquimáticos estreitos. Ocorrem idioblastos contendo compostos fenólicos, areia cristalina e drusas de oxalato de cálcio na folha e no caule.

Genipa americana L., known as jenipapo, is a Rubiaceae species native to Brazil. Its leaves are used by the population as anti-diarrheic and febrifuge, and its stem as anti-hemorrhagic and for trauma injuries. Aiming to identify macro and microscopically mature leaves and young stems for the pharmacognostic quality control, this medicinal plant was investigated according to standard morpho-anatomical techniques. The leaves are simple, opposite, obovate-oblanceolate, presenting short petiole. The epidermis is uniseriate and coated with thin and slightly striate cuticle. The stomata are paracytic and restricted to the abaxial surface. It occurs non-glandular trichomes, uni and multicellular, predominantly on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral. In cross-section, the midrib is plane-convex and the petiole is circular, both presenting one collateral vascular bundle in centric arrangement and minor ones. The stem shows phellogen installed superficially, annular collenchyma and a phloem cylinder outside the xylem one, both traversed by narrow parenchymatic rays. It is encountered idioblasts containing phenolic substances and calcium oxalate crystal-sand and druses.

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae: estudo farmacobotânico de uma planta medicinal da Farmacopeia brasileira 1ª edição / Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae: morpho-anatomical study of a medicinal plant described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 1st edition

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson é um arbusto nativo do Brasil, latescente, popularmente conhecido como agoniada e utilizado principalmente para distúrbios menstruais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar morfoanatomicamente a folha, o caule e a casca caulinar dessa planta medicinal, a fim de contribuir para o controle de qualidade e a autenticidade dessa espécie. O material vegetal foi fixado e submetido às microtécnicas usuais. A folha é simples, glabra e obovado-lanceolada. A epiderme é uniestratificada, revestida por cutícula estriada e possui estômatos anisocíticos na face abaxial. O mesofilo é dorsiventral. A nervura central é biconvexa e o pecíolo é circular, ambos apresentando feixes vasculares bicolaterais. Laticíferos, amiloplastos e idioblastos fenólicos estão presentes no parênquima fundamental da nervura central e do pecíolo. O sistema vascular do caule é tipicamente bicolateral. Laticíferos e idioblastos fenólicos ocorrem no córtex, no floema e na medula. Esses caracteres morfoanatômicos, em conjunto, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros para o controle de qualidade dessa espécie.

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson is a Brazilian native shrub, laticiferous, popularly known as "agoniada" and it is mainly used for uterine disorders. The present work aimed to study the leaf, stem and stem bark morpho-anatomy of this medicinal plant, in order to contribute to its quality control and identification. The plant material was fixed and submitted to standard microtechniques. The leaf is simple, glabrous and obovate-lanceolate. The epidermis is uniseriate, coated with striated cuticle and it has anysocitic stomata on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral. The midrib is biconvex and the petiole is circular, both presenting bicollateral vascular bundles. Laticiferous ducts, amyloplasts and phenolic idioblasts are found in ground parenchyma of the midrib and petiole. The vascular system of the stem is tipically bicollateral. Laticiferous ducts and phenolic idioblasts are present in the cortex, phloem and pith. These morpho-anatomical characters, all together, can be used as quality control parameters of this species.

Contribuição ao estudo farmacognóstico de Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker (guaco), visando o controle de qualidade da matéria-prima / Contribution to the pharmacognostic study of Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker

O gênero Mikania, pertencente à família Asteraceae e à tribo Eupatoriae, tem cerca de 430 espécies distribuída principalmente na América do Sul. No Brasil, o gênero está representado por aproximadamente 171 espécies. Várias espécies do gênero Mikania de hábito trepador recebem a denominação vulgar de "guaco". Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, conhecida como "guaco", "guaco-de-casa" e "guaco-do-mato", é uma espécie nativa do sul do Brasil. Suas folhas são empregadas na medicina tradicional como expectorante e como anti-reumáticas. É muito semelhante morfologicamente com M. glomerata, que é a espécie oficializada pela Farmacopéia Brasileira I. Alguns estudos de M. laevigata comprovaram atividades farmacológicas como, antiinflamatória, antimutagênica, antimicrobiana e antiulcerogênica. Objetivou-se estudar a morfologia externa e a anatomia do caule e da folha de M. laevigata, com a finalidade de fornecer dados farmacognósticos referentes à identificação e à diferenciação dessa espécie das demais Mikania, visando o controle de qualidade da matéria-prima. O material botânico foi submetido às microtécnicas fotônicas e eletrônicas de varredura usuais. As características morfoanatômicas descritas para a folha e o caule de M. laevigata auxiliam na identificação da espécie.

The genus Mikania, belonging to the family Asteraceae and tribe Eupatoriae, has about 430 species mainly distributed in South America. In Brazil, the genus is represented by approximately 171 species. Various members of Mikania are lianas and commonly called "guaco". Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker, known as "guaco", "guaco-de-casa" and "guaco-do-mato", is native to the South of Brazil. Its leaves are used in folk medicine as expectorant and antirheumatic. It is morphologically similar to M. glomerata, whose monograph is included in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 1st Ed. Some studies on M. laevigata have demonstrated pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antimicrobial and anti-ulcerogenic. This work has aimed to study the morpho-anatomy of the stem and the leaf of M. laevigata, in order to supply pharmacognostic information related to the identification of this species and distinction from other Mikania for quality control purposes. The botanical material was prepared according to standard light and scanning electronic micro techniques. The morpho-anatomical characters described for the stem and the leaf contribute to the identification of this species.

Estudo farmacobotânico de partes vegetativas aéreas de Baccharis anomala DC., Asteraceae / Pharmacobotanical study of aerial vegetative parts of Baccharis anomala DC., Asteraceae

O gênero Baccharis pertence à família Asteraceae e se destaca por incluir espécies medicinais. Baccharis anomala DC., conhecida como "uva-do-mato" e "cambará-de-cipó", é utilizada popularmente como diurético e estudos fitoquímicos constataram a presença de taninos e saponinas. Este trabalho objetivou realizar estudo farmacobotânico de folha e caule dessa espécie. O material foi submetido a microtécnicas fotônica e eletrônica de varredura usuais. A lâmina foliar possui epiderme uniestratificada revestida por cutícula delgada e estriada. Estômatos anomocíticos ocorrem somente na face abaxial. Em ambas as faces aparecem dois tipos de tricomas tectores pluricelulares unisseriados, um com ápice agudo e outro com célula apical flageliforme. O mesofilo é isobilateral e a nervura central é plano-convexa, sendo percorrida por um feixe vascular colateral. O pecíolo mostra três feixes vasculares que se dispõem em arco aberto. O caule tem secção circular e epiderme unisseriada, com tricomas similares aos da folha. Colênquima angular e clorênquima alternam-se no córtex e fibras perivasculares apõem-se ao floema. Evidencia-se uma zona cambial, cujas células formam xilema no sentido centrípeto e floema, centrifugamente, e a medula compõe-se de células parenquimáticas. Dutos secretores acompanham o sistema vascular na folha e no caule.

The genus Baccharis belongs to the family Asteraceae and includes medicinal species. Baccharis anomala DC., popularly known as "uva-do-mato" and "cambará-do-cipó" in Portuguese, is used as diuretic in folk medicine and phytochemical studies have demonstrated the presence of tannins and saponins. This work has aimed at studying the macro and microscopic aspects of the leaf and stem of this species. The botanical material was prepared according to standard light and scanning microtechniques. The leaf blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin and striate cuticle. Anomocytic stomata are encountered on the abaxial surface. On both sides there are two types of non-glandular trichomes. They are multicellular and uniseriate, one type ending with an acute apical cell and the other with a flagelliform cell. The mesophyll is isobilateral and the midrib is plain-convex, being traversed by one collateral vascular bundle. The petiole shows three collateral vascular bundles arranged in open arc. The stem exhibits circular cross-section and uniseriate epidermis, with trichomes similar to those of the leaf. Angular collenchyma and chlorenchyma alternate in the cortex and perivascular fibres adjoin the phloem. The cambial zone is evident and the phloem is formed outwards and the xylem inwards. The pith is parenchymatic. Secretory ducts are associated with the vascular system in the leaf and stem.

Morfodiagnose da anatomia foliar e caulinar de Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Theaceae / Leaf and stem anatomical morpho-diagnosis of Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Theaceae

Camellia sinensis é um arbusto ou árvore de pequeno porte, de origem asiática, denominado de chá-da-índia, chá-verde ou chá-preto. Possui atividades antioxidante, antiinflamatória, antimicrobiana e hepatoprotetora. A comercialização dessa espécie é relevante, como droga farmacognóstica e insumo na indústria de bebidas. O presente trabalho trata da caracterização estrutural de folha e caule, de modo a contribuir na morfodiagnose para o controle de qualidade. Amostras do material vegetal foram fixadas, seccionadas e coradas com azul de astra e fucsina básica. Testes microquímicos usuais foram realizados. A folha apresenta estômatos anomocíticos na face abaxial, tricomas tectores unicelulares em ambas as superfícies, mesofilo dorsiventral, drusas de oxalato de cálcio, nervura central biconvexa e pecíolo plano-convexo, ambos percorridos por feixe vascular colateral. O caule, no nível analisado, possui epiderme unisseriada, camada subepidérmica de células colabadas, bainha esclerenquimática, estrato de células com paredes espessadas em U, organização vascular colateral e medula com células parenquimáticas e esclerenquimáticas. Esclereídes são encontradas na folha e no caule.

Camellia sinensis is a shrub or small tree, of Asian origin and commonly called Chinese tea, green tea or black tea. This species has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and hepatic protective activities. Its trade is relevant, either as pharmacognostic drug or raw material in food industry. This work has dealt with the structural diagnosis of the leaf and stem, in order to contribute to its quality control. Samples of the botanical material were fixed, sectioned and stained with astra blue and basic fuchsine. Microchemical tests were also conducted. The leaf has anomocytic stomata on the abaxial side, unicellular non-glandular trichomes on both surfaces, dorsiventral mesophyll, calcium oxalate druses, biconvex midrib and plain-convex petiole, both traversed by a collateral vascular bundle. The stem, on the level analysed, shows uniseriate epidermis, sub-epidermal layer of dehydrated cells, sclerenchymatic sheath, strand of cells with U-thickened walls, collateral vascular organization and pith consisting of parenchymatic and sclerenchymatic cells. Sclereids are found in the leaf and stem.

Caracterização morfoanatômica de raiz e rizoma de Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) / Morpho-anatomical characterization of the root and rhizome of Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae)

Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) é uma erva perene conhecida como confrei, consólida-maior e erva-do-cardeal, empregada na fitoterapia como antiinflamatório, emoliente e anestésico suave de uso tópico, devido à ação da alantoína encontrada nos órgãos subterrâneos e na folha. Com a finalidade de contribuir com a identificação da planta medicinal e da droga vegetal, foram realizados estudos morfoanatômicos de raiz e rizoma, em estrutura secundária. O material botânico foi fixado e preparado de acordo com microtécnicas usuais. Os órgãos subterrâneos são semelhantes, fusiformes e mostram-se de cor amarela clara a negra. A raiz e o rizoma apresentam periderme e tecidos vasculares secundários semelhantes, mas diferem pela presença de xilema primário exarco na raiz e xilema primário endarco e medula parenquimática no rizoma. Numerosas células parenquimáticas contendo mucilagem e amiloplastos são observadas na raiz e no rizoma.

Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) is a perennial herb known as comfrey, gum plant or boneset, and it is employed topically as anti-inflammatory, emollient and mild anesthetic in phytotherapy, due to allantoin found in the underground organs and leaf. In order to contribute to the medicinal plant and vegetal drug identification, morpho-anatomical investigations of the root and rhizome, in secondary growth, were carried out. The botanical material was fixed and prepared according to usual microtechniques. The underground organs are alike, slender and yellow to black coloured. The root and the rhizome show similar periderm and secondary vascular tissues, yet they differ in that the root shows exarch primary xylem, while the rhizome presents endarch primary xylem and parenchymatous pith. Numerous parenchymatic cells which contain mucilage and amyloplasts are observed in the root and rhizome.

Caracteres anatômicos de folha e caule de Calea uniflora Less., Asteraceae / Anatomical characters of the leaf and stem of Calea uniflora Less., Asteraceae

Diversas espécies de Calea são utilizadas como medicinais e vários estudos químicos têm sido conduzidos para identificar compostos relevantes no gênero, no entanto, poucos enfocam aspectos morfoanatômicos. Este trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar morfologicamente a folha e o caule de Calea uniflora Less., a fim de fornecer subsídios para a identificação da espécie. O material foi submetido às microtécnicas fotônica e eletrônica de varredura usuais. A lâmina foliar possui epiderme uniestratificada revestida por cutícula delgada e estriada. Em ambas as faces, ocorrem estômatos anomocíticos e anisocíticos, além de tricomas glandulares e tectores. Estes são pluricelulares e unisseriados, com ápice agudo. Os glandulares podem ser pluricelulares e plurisseriados ou capitados e inseridos em depressão na epiderme. O mesofilo é isobilateral e a nervura central é biconvexa, sendo percorrida por um feixe vascular colateral. O caule mostra secção circular e epiderme unisseriada, com tricomas similares aos da folha. Colênquima angular e clorênquima alternam-se no córtex, fibras perivasculares apõem-se ao floema, o arranjo vascular é colateral e a medula compõe-se de células parenquimáticas. Dutos secretores acompanham o sistema vascular na folha e no caule.

Various species of Calea are considered medicinal and several investigations have been carried out to identify relevant chemical substances in the genus, however, few studies have dealt with morpho-anatomical aspects. This work aimed to analyse the morphological characters of the leaf and stem of Calea uniflora Less., in order to contribute for the species identification. The plant material was prepared according to usual light and scanning microtechniques. The blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with thin and striate cuticle. Anomocytic and anisocytic stomata are seen on both surfaces, as well as glandular and non-glandular trichomes. The latter is pluricellular and uniseriate, with acute apex. The glandular trichomes are pluricellular and multiseriate or capitate and located in epidermal depression. The mesophyll is isobilateral, and the midrib is biconvex and traversed by a collateral vascular bundle. The stem shows circular transection and uniseriate epidermis, with trichomes similar to the leaf. Angular collenchyma and chlorenchyma alternate in the cortex, perivascular fibres adjoin the phloem, the vascular arrangement is collateral and the pith consists of parenchymatic cells. Secretory ducts are associated with the vascular system of the leaf and stem.

Análise morfoanatômica de folhas de Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees, Lauraceae / Leaf morpho-anatomical analysis of Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees, Lauraceae

Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees é uma espécie arbórea nativa, que ocorre por toda a América tropical e subtropical, em quase todas as formações florestais. É conhecida como guaicá, canela-guaicá e canela-sebo, sendo utilizada por comunidades indígenas no tratamento de tumores e afecções da pele. Este trabalho analisou a morfoanatomia das folhas da espécie, a fim de fornecer subsídios anatômicos à sua identificação. O material botânico foi fixado e submetido a técnicas usuais de microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. As folhas são alternas, simples, inteiras, elípticas ou elíptico-lanceoladas e revolutas na base. A anatomia foliar revela a ocorrência de estômatos paracíticos e tricomas tectores unicelulares na face abaxial, mesofilo dorsiventral, nervura mediana biconvexa, com sistema vascular constituído de feixe único do tipo colateral em arco aberto. Na estrutura anatômica da folha, são observadas células secretoras de substâncias lipofílicas e mucilaginosas.

Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees is a native woody species. It occurs all over tropical and subtropical America, in almost all the forest formations. It is known as guaicá, canela-guaicá and canela-sebo, being used by indigenous communities to treat skin diseases and tumours. This work has analysed the leaf morpho-anatomy of the species, in order to supply anatomical information for its identification. The botanical material was fixed and prepared according to usual optical and scanning microtechniques. The leaves are alternate, simple, entire, elliptical or elliptical-lanceolate and revolute at the base. The leaf anatomy shows paracytic stomata and unicellular non-glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface, dorsiventral mesophyll and biconvex midrib consisting of a collateral bundle in open arc. Oil and mucilage cells are found in leaf anatomical structure.