Image analysis on epidermal cells of leaves in medicinal plants of Swertia L / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the shape differences of upper epidermal cells in leaves of medicinal plants of Swertia L. and establish the new method for identifying them. Methods The epidermis were mounted in ordinary technique, and then scanned and binarized through HPIAS-1000 image analytic system. The waveness of the anticlinal walls (SFC) and the ratio of the Ferets diameter (SLF) of upper epidermal cells were detected. The leaf epidermal cells of 21 kinds of raw materials in 12 plants of Swertia L. from various regions were examined. Results The precision and reproducibility of software system were good, and the shape characters of the upper epidermal cells of the middle lamina in the third node arising from ground are the stablest inside the same species by the magnification 20?10 under microscope. The SFC and SLF of the upper epidermal cells of the same species of plants are relatively constant, conversely that of different species of plants are obviously different and distinguishable from each other. Conclusion The proposed method is a useful technique for identifying traditional Chinese medicinal materials originated from herbs and leaves of plants. HPIAS-1000 is simple, rapid, accurate, and practical for shape analysis of upper epidermal cells of plant leaf.