Comparative light and scanning electron microscopy in authentication of adulterated traded medicinal plants

Abstract

The medicinal plants are utilized globally considering the cheap and chemical free source, but their correct identification and authentication is prerequisite for safety and efficacy of plant-based medicines. The present study encompassed traded medicinal plants (16) with high therapeutic value from diverse families like Brassicaceae, Berberidaceae, Malvaceae, Salicaceae, Myrtaceae, Papilionaceae, Ascelpiadaceae, Colchicaceae, Violaceae, and Vitaceae for detailed microscopic study of characters that is, morphology, pollen shape and sizes, P/E ratio, pore length and width, spine length, colpi dimensions, and exine sculpture pattern. The plants showed noteworthy differences in microscopy of Wattakaka volubilis having pollinia, translator and corpusculum like structures while pores were visible in Colchicum luteum, Alcea rosea, and Hibiscus syriacus. The spines were observed in Centipeda minima, A. rosea, and H. syriacus being dimorphic spines in A. rosea and monomorphic in H. syriacus. The exine sculpturing pattern was reticulate in mostly studied plants however distinctive exine pattern was noted in Berberis aristata and Berberis lyceum. The highest polar diameter, equatorial diameter and exine thickness among studied plants were observed in H. syriacus (161 μm), C. luteum (50 μm) and Vitis jacquemontii (1.10), respectively. Thus, microscopy of medicinal plants in addition to other taxonomic evidence offers a supportive skill in authentication, consequently utilization by local consumers and pharmaceutical industries.

Morpho‐palynological and anatomical studies in desert cacti (Opuntia dillenii and Opuntia monacantha) using light and scanning electron microscopy

“…The anthers were crushed and treated with acetic acid to release the pollen material from it. For staining glycerin jelly was used (Ahmed et al, 2019; Ashfaq et al, 2018; Shah et al, 2020; Zafar et al, 2019; Zafar et al, 2020). The prepared pollen slides were observed under light microscope and photographs were taken at 40× magnification under Nikon FX‐35 Camera equipped with photomicrograph system.…”

“…Previously, species were classified based on morphological features of stem, fruits and flowers, while recently taxonomist utilized epidermal anatomy as a tool for correct identification and classification (Hameed et al, 2021; Ullah, Ahmad, Jabeen, et al, 2021; Ullah, Ahmad, Zafar, et al, 2021; Ullah, Nasar Shah, et al, 2019; Ullah, Zafar, Ahmad, et al, 2021; Ullah, Zaman, et al, 2019). The epidermal anatomical features provide contribution largely to resolve the taxonomic problems (Ahmed et al, 2019; Sufyan et al, 2018). Diagnostically, the family was reported to have paracytic or parallelocytic type stomata (Eggli, 1984).…”

Chemometric-Guided Approaches for Profiling and Authenticating Botanical Materials

“…Although trained specialists provide the most accurate identifications, guidebooks and phone applications provide a simple, inexpensive avenue for authentication. Increased accuracy results from micromorphology which allows species-specific evaluations of pollen shape, pore size, and other microscopic traits (9,10). Recently, machine learning and image processing software have led to high-thruput identification of medicinal plants based on predefined characteristics and extensive training datasets (11,12).…”

Palyno‐morphological diversity of Asteraceous and Poaceous allergenic plant using microscopic techniques in lesser Himalaya‐Pakistan

“…Study of pollen grains and spores called "Palynology" (palynos and dust). Ultrastructural and morphological features of pollen grains provide a wealth characteristic to identify a specific plant taxon (Ahmad et al, 2018;Ahmed et al, 2019;Bano et al, 2012Bano et al, , 2020Simpson, 2019). To place taxa in correct taxonomic rank pollen morphological features are used by taxonomists for identification of flora (Khan et al, 2021).…”