Chemotaxonomy is concerned with the systematic study of phytochemical variation between plants. This variation has been essentially used for classification purposes ever since 'folk taxonomies', based on certain obvious plant characteristics which were instinctively employed by mankind centuries ago which included characters such as edibility, taste, colour, smell and medicinal value were founded subjectively on such chemical properties. The growth in the knowledge of the chemical complexity of plants became high from the desires of Europeans for exotic spices and condiments which provoked investigations into their medicinal properties. This Knowledge about the subject was summarised in herbals and concentrated on information about physiologically active secondary metabolite such as alkaloids and saponins. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries knowledge in the field increased and some taxonomists made use of several chemical characteristics in attempts to delineate plants taxa and to demonstrate their phylogeny. Chemotaxonomy has undoubtedly made a big contribution to taxonomic work in the past and will most certainly continue to do so in future. The valuable information it offers is best used in conjunction with other sources of taxonomic evidence and thus a multidisciplinary approach is required in order to establish a system of classification which reflects natural relationships as accurately as possible.
The root and shoot apical meristem serve as sources of pluripotent cells and provide new cells for repetitive organ initiation, they are the major meristematic regions on which plant development take place. New meristems are incessantly formed as plants produce new branches or lateral roots thus making the understanding of meristem function central to how plants can establish different growth types, ranging from tiny herbs to huge trees. The sizes and numbers of meristems that are initiated during advanced development control the size and number of fruits and the generation of seeds. The development of a lateral root from a limited number of cells requires compactly coordinated asymmetric cell divisions to generate cell diversity and tissue patterns which characteristically involves the specification of founder cells, followed by a number of cellular changes until the cells divide and give rise to unequally sized daughter cells. Leaf development exemplifies the dynamic nature and flexibility of plant development in response to internal and external cues which is evidenced in the fact that two plants, even if genetically identical, do not look the same, two leaves on the same plant are different, and the final shape of a leaf is not predetermined when it starts to form. Leaves evolved from lateral branches following the acquisition of determinate growth and a flat structure, thus the specification of organ initiation involves a complex network of genetic, hormonal and mechanical factors which has been discussed in this review.
This study is aimed at evaluating the qualitative phytochemical constituents of the leaf and stem of five common species of Sida collected in Uyo metropolis. These species are medicinal plants used in folk medicine for the management of testicular swelling, elephantiasis, skin disease, fever, ulcer and urinary disease. Phytochemical screening was carried out on Sida acuta Burm. f, Sida stipulata Cav., Sida rhombifolia L., Sida corymbosa R. E. Fr. and Sida sp. using standard methods. Saponins, Tannins and Cardiac glycosides were present in the stem and leaves of all the five species. However, Tannins were strongly present in the leaves while Cardiac glycosides were strongly present in the stems of all the five species. Trace amounts of Phlobatannins were also present in the leaves and stems of all species. Terpenoids were present only in the leaves of S. rhombifolia and absent in all others. The strong presence of Saponins in both stem and leaf extracts as well as the presence of alkaloid in the leaves of Sida sp. differentiated it from the other four species. The taxonomic implication of this is discussed in the work. The presence of these phytochemicals also lends credence for their usage in folk medicine.
Buchholzia coriacea Engl. is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Capparidaceae. It has antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic and antihypercholesterol activities. The aim of this study was to employ the quality control parameters in the evaluation of the leaf of B. coriacea. The plant leaves were collected, air dried, pulverized and stored in a clean glass container. Standard procedures were carried out to obtain the microscopic features of the fresh and powdered samples, micromeritic, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence properties, soluble extractive values, moisture contents and ash values. The results of the microscopic study using fresh and powdered leaf samples revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata on the abaxial surface (hypostomatic) with mean length of 31.8 ± 0.6 cm. The cell shape was polygonal and straight anticlinal cell wall pattern. Results of the micromeritic properties of the powdered sample showed bulk volume of 31.00± 0.70cm, tapped volume of 25.1± 0.20 cm, bulk density of 0.32 ± 0.01g/m, tapped density of 0.39± 0.01g/ml, flow rate of 2.2 ± 0.08g/s, angle of repose of 26.1 ± 1.3 degrees, Carr’s index of 18.9± 1.35 %, Hausner’s ratio of 1.23 ± 0.02, pH of 8.0 when cold and 8.2 when hot for the powdered sample liquid extract. The results of the chemomicroscopic study revealed the presence of lignin, mucilage, calcium oxalate crystals, oil, calcium carbonate, but starch was absent. Results for the ethanol-soluble extractive value was 7 ± 0.00% , water-soluble extractive value was 14 ± 0.00% and methanol-soluble extractive value was 3 ± 0.00% for the powdered samples. Results for the moisture content was 10.3 ± 0.00% , total ash values was 6.3± 0.00% , acid-insoluble ash value was 1 ± 0.00% , water-soluble ash value was 3±0.00% and sulfated ash values was 7.5 ± 0.00% . In conclusion, the above evaluation methods and parameters there in could be used to identify and authenticate both the fresh and powdered crude drug product of Buchholzia coriacea.
Jatropha tanjorensis J.L. Ellis & Saroja. (Euphorbiaceae) is a shrub commonly used as an edible vegetable and is also used as a tonic herb. The study was aimed to evaluate pharmacognostic parameters of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves. The plant leaves were collected, air-dried, pulverized and stored in a clean glass container. Standard procedures were employed to obtain the microscopic features of the fresh and powdered samples, micromeritic, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence properties, moisture content, ash values and soluble extractive values were also carried out. The results of the microscopic studies using the fresh and powered leaf samples revealed the presence of anomocytic, anomalous and paracytic stomata on the abaxial surface and anomocytic stomata on the adaxial surface. The plant sample also possessed unicellular trichomes. Results of micromeritic properties of the powdered samples show bulk volume of 38.67±0.7, tapped volume of 30.00±0.4, bulk density of 0.26±0.00, tapped density of 0.33±0.00, angle of repose of 350, Carr’s Index of 22.96±2.15, Hausner’s ratio of 1.27±0.03, pH of 7.51 and 7.52 when hot and cold respectively. Chemomicroscopy studies revealed the presence of lignin, mucilage, calcium oxalate crystals, starch and oil in the powdered leaf. Results for moisture contents was 18.33±0.01% w/w, total ash value was 9.33±0.00%w/w, acid-insoluble ash value was 0.67±0.01%w/w, water-soluble ash value was 4.0±0.00%w/w and sulfated ash value was 14±0.01%w/w. Results for ethanol-soluble extractive value was 15±0.00%w/w, methanol-soluble extractive value was 19±0.00%w/w and water-soluble extractive value was 27±0.01%w/w. In conclusion, the above evaluation and parameters could be used to establish pharmacopoeial standard of both fresh and powdered drug of Jatropha tanjorensis.
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