Morpho-anatomical characters of Limonium brasiliense leaves

Abstract Limonium brasiliense (Boiss.) Kuntze, Plumbaginaceae, is a coastal herb of the Southern Brazilian states and Rio de Janeiro State. In folk medicine, it is used in the treatment of female genitourinary tract infections and menstrual cycle irregularities. The aim of this study was to describe morpho-anatomical characters with details on venation pattern of L. brasiliense leaves, collected on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, in Southern Brazil. Leaf samples fixed in FAA50 (5% formaldehyde, 5% acetic acid and 90% ethanol: water mixture 50:50 v/v) and 1% glutaraldehyde and preserved in 70% ethanol, were histologically sectioned and analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The L. brasiliense leaves were simple, entire, incomplete, oboval-lanceolate, venation penninervous and showed rosulated phyllotaxy, entire and revolute margin, with apex rounded to slightly retuse, base attenuate and venation pattern brochidodromous. On microscopic analysis, these leaves showed a thick and striated cuticle, salt glands, isobilateral mesophyll thicker in the apical region of the leaf blade, abundant aerenchyma in the petiole and main vein, collateral vascular bundles surrounded by fiber-sclereids, lipid substances in the cuticle and polyphenols in phloem cells.

In Vitro Tissue Culture, Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Plumbago Scandens L.

A protocol was developed for the micropropagation of Plumbago scandens L. from the shoot tip and node explants.The best response of shoot elongation (10.18±2.01 mm) was observed on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.02 mg/L IAA – 0.02 mg/L GA3. The maximum number of root induction (10.0±2.21) and shoot elongation (8.24±3.24 mm) was observed on medium containing 0.01 mg/L IBA and 0.01 mg/L GA3. The in vitro propagated plants were transferred to soil with 80% survival rate. Profuse compact callus was induced and proliferated from several explants (cotyledons, internodes, hypocotyls and roots) cultured on MS medium supplemented with all the combinations of 2,4-D – GA3 or 2,4-D alone and combinations of IAA – BAP or IAA alone, and the highest percentage of friable callus (90%) were induced in the sections of compact callus using 2.0 mg/L IAA – 0.02 mg/L BAP – 0.5 mg/L GA3.The qualitative determination of chemical constituents in the extracts was evaluated by a gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry, and it was verified the presence of plumbagin only in root extracts but not in in vitro plantlets.The antibacterial activity of root extracts against various pathogenic bacteria, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) was determined. Chloroform extracts showed good antibacterial activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae between 0.4 to 1.0 mg/L with 20.4 to 30.0 mm (diameter zone of inhibition); inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus was moderate, and lower against Escherichia coli. Chloroform extracts had the lowest MICs for N. gonorrhoeae (<0.1 mg/mL per disc), and the activities against S. aureus (MIC 0.2 mg/mL) and E. coli (MIC 0.4 mg/mL) were less pronounced.

Chemical composition fluctuations in roots of Plumbago scandens L. in relation to floral development

Plumbago scandens L. is a Brazilian tropical/subtropical species that occurs along the coast. Chemically it is mainly represented by naphthoquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. The aim of the present work is to study quantitative changes in the root metabolic production of Plumbago scandens during different physiologic developmental stages relative to floration. The results indicated the presence of four substances in the extracts: plumbagin, epi-isoshinanolone, palmitic acid and sitosterol, independent on developmental stage. The naphthoquinone plumbagin has always showed to be the major component of all extracts. Naphthoquinones exhibited their highest content during floration, while the content of the two others components decreased during this stage, revealing an inverse profile. The chemical composition changed depending on the plant requirements.

Plumbago scandens L. é uma espécie brasileira tropical/subtropical que ocorre ao longo da costa. Quimicamente, é principalmente representada por naftoquinonas, flavonóides, terpenóides e esteróides. objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar mudanças quantitativas da produção metabólica nas raízes de Plumbago scandens durante diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento fisiológico, relativos à floração. Os resultados indicaram a presença de quatro substâncias nos extratos: plumbagina, epi-isoshinanolona, ácido palmítico e sitosterol, independente do estágio de desenvolvimento. A naftoquinona plumbagina tem sempre mostrado ser o componente majoritário de todos os extratos. Naftoquinonas exibiram seus maiores conteúdos durante a floração, enquanto o conteúdo dos dois outros componentes decresceu durante este estágio, revelando um perfil inverso. A composição química modificou dependendo das necessidades da planta.