Anatomical and histochemical characterization of leaves of Spondias purpurea L.

Abstract

The Anacardiaceae family has species rich in secondary metabolites. They are widely used in popular medicine. Among them, Spondias purpurea L. stands out for containing several secondary metabolites with important biological activities. To aid in the precise identification of the species, this work aims to perform an anatomical and histochemical characterization of leaves of S. purpurea. Microscope slides containing cross-sections of the petiolule and leaflets, in addition to paradermal sections of the leaflets, were prepared and analyzed in an optical and polarized microscope. Histochemical tests were performed on fresh leaflets. Through microscopic analysis, it was possible to identify the anatomical structures that allow the diagnosis of the studied species, such as petiolule with concave-convex shape, non-glandular and glandular trichomes, druses in phloem; leafletsamphistomatic, with non-glandular trichomes on the adaxial face and glandular trichomes on the abaxial face, midrib with concave-convex shape, two collateral vascular bundles, one layer of palisade parenchyma, druses in phloem and mesophyll. Through histochemistry, the presence of phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes, steroids, lipophilic compounds, essential oils, lignin, starch and calcium oxalate crystals were evidenced in the leaflets. The results are important for the quality control of plant material.