Implication of light and scanning electron microscopy of foliar cuticular and palynological features in the correct identification of medicinal plants

Nighat Seema

doi:10.19045/bspab.2018.700177

Abstract

Abstract Foliar epidermal anatomy and palynology of six medicinal plant species Catharanthus roseus., Carum carvi L., Trachyspermum ammi L., Anethum graveolens L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill. and Nigella sativa L. are commonly used for different medicinal uses Six medicinal species were used as an example and their foliar cuticular and pollen features were evaluated by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Features allied to pollen grains (pollen type, colpi,and sculpture type) and foliar cuticular features (epidermis, stomata, and trichome) were found to be important examined characters. Pollen grain morphology of these medicinal plants revealed that the pollen is the prolate and per-prolate type. Their foliar epidermal anatomy revealed the presence of an anomocytic type of stomata in C. roseus, C. carvi and N. sativa, dicytic type in F. vulgare and anisocytic type in A. graveolens. Keywords: Medicinal plants; Palynology; SEM; Taxonomic identification http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2018.700177

Highlights

The significance of pollen morphology in the Medicinal plants are in common use in most taxonomy of Apocynaceae has been of the developing countries [1]
Pollen grains of T. ammi is per-prolate with exine sculpturing striate with sculpturing elements elongated and extending sideways and parallel (Table 3)
The pollen grains of F. vulgare is bicolporate with exine sculpturing striate with sculpturing elements much elongated and extending parallel forming gaps or grooves

Summary

Introduction

The significance of pollen morphology in the Medicinal plants are in common use in most taxonomy of Apocynaceae has been of the developing countries [1]. Longitudinally arranged and somewhat tubular, walls sinuous. Stomata dicytic, common on both surfaces, 22-30 μm long. Anomocytic, 42-52 μm long and 25-31 μm wide. The pollen grains of C. roseus is prolate with exine sculpturing elements elongated sideways and extending more or less parallel, forming grooves or gaps between them. Pollen grains of T. ammi is per-prolate with exine sculpturing striate with sculpturing elements elongated and extending sideways and parallel (Table 3). The pollen grains of F. vulgare is bicolporate with exine sculpturing striate with sculpturing elements much elongated and extending parallel forming gaps or grooves. The pollen grains of C. carvi are prolate with exine sculpturing reticulate with sculpturing elements arranged in compact networking with gaps (lumina) and muri (ridges). The family has spinuloseexine ornamentation, the most common pattern in the Ranunculaceae [19]

Morphological Description

Ajowain Fruits

Findings

Conclusion