ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Digestive herbal teas in the form of monoherbal infusions or in mixtures are the most commonly used form of phytotherapy in Bahía Blanca (Argentina). This practice is based on family tradition reinforced by current trends reverting to the ingestion of natural products. The objective of this work was to analyze the botanical quality of the digestive mixtures sold in Bahía Blanca as fine cut mixtures (in tea bags) and thick cut mixtures (fragmented herbs). Samples of seven mixtures sold in the form of tea bags and four as bags of fragmented herbs were studied under stereoscopic and optical microscopes and micrographic studies were carried out following conventional protocols. Observed characteristics were compared with those in the reference bibliography for verified genuine monoherbs. In the studied products a total of 21 different species were found. There was total concordance between the species declared on the label and those identified in the samples in six of the mixtures in the form of tea bags and in only one of the bags of fragmented herbs. Adulterations were found in four of the samples analyzed (one in a tea bag and three in the fragmented mixtures). The labels on only two of the tea bag samples presented complete and correct information; in the remaining samples irregularities were found related to: the taxonomic identification of the species, the absence of a lot number, date of expiry, the plant parts used and proportions of the herbs etc. The findings underline the great importance of quality controls as a tool to protect the rights of phytotherapy consumers.
ABSTRACT
Foram determinados parâmetros morfo-anatômicos do caule de Cuphea glutinosa cham. & Schltdl, planta reconhecida tradicionalmente como medicinal, objetivando sua autenticidade como insumo farmacêutico. As características macroscópicas do caule são insuficientes para a determinação da autenticidade dos insumos farmacêuticos desta planta, havendo necessidade de verificar a presença de sementes não aladas e de vesículas infraestaminais nas flores. Microscopicamente a presença de formações epicuticulares, cristais de oxalato de cálcio na forma de drusas, tricomas tectores e glandulares, estômatos xerofíticos, células mucilaginosas e floema interxilemático, são características significativas no controle botânico de qualidade desta espécie para a indústria farmacêutica, quando analisadas em conjunto.
Morpho-anatomical parameters of Cuphea glutinosa cham. & Schltdl, stem were determined aiming its authenticity as a pharmaceutical drug. This plant is traditionally known as medicinal. The macroscopic characteristics of the stem are insuficient to determine the autenticity of this plant pharmaceutics input, it requires checking out the presence of not winged seeds and vesicles placed under the stamens of the flowers. Microscopically, the presence of epicuticular formations, crystals of calcium oxalato in druses form, glandular and non-glandular thricomes, xerophytic stomatas, mucilages cells and interxilematic phloem are meaningful characteristics in the botanical quality control of this plant for the pharmaceutical industry, when analyzed together.