Bark Anatomy of Podocarpus elongatus (Ait) L.Herit and Screening of Phytochemical Constituents with Antimicrobial Potential

Abstract

Background: Conifer Podocarpus elongatus belongs to the family Podocarpaceae and some species of Podocarpus are used in traditional medicine. The present study was undertaken to study the anatomical features of the bark of Podocarpus elongatus (Ait) L.Herit. The study was also focused on the antimicrobial activity and phytochemicals present in the bark extract. Methods: The bark was collected from the P. elongatus from Nilgiri Hills of Ooty, Tamil Nadu. The anatomical structures of the bark were elucidated macroscopically and microscopically by using the sectioning techniques. The phytochemical examination was done to confirm the presence of phytochemical components in the methanol extract. The antimicrobial activity was also studied based on the zone of inhibition. Result: The surface of the bark was highly distinguished from other related species, in the pattern of colour, stripes and thickness. Microscopical study envisaged that periderm is characterised by well distinct, continuous structures of the branchy sclereids with thick undulate, continuous segments that have been originated from a deeper cortex. TLS and RLS of the bark view elucidated that the phloem component appeared to be a vertical plane in the fibres. Phloem rays were found as uniseriate with wide sieve cells. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of the bark exhibited potential effects against examined bacterial and fungal strains.