Micromorphology and Histochemistry of Vegetative Organs from Nicandra Physalodes (L.) Gaertn (Solanaceae)

Abstract

Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn is a sub-shrub used in folk medicine for various purposes, as it is also considered a toxic plant. Due to its ethnobotanical importance, a study of vegetative organs (leaves, stem, root) of this species was carried out, for its micromorphological and histochemical characterization, with the objective of finding parameters to support the taxonomy and quality control of their ethnodrugs. Paradermic and cross sections were carried out on fresh samples of leaves, stem and root, from the plant collected in the municipality of Bananeiras, State of Paraíba, Brazil, as well as histochemical tests with specific conductors, following the usual techniques in botanical anatomy. It was observed that N. physalodes has an amphistomatic leaf blade, anisocytic and anomocytic stomata, 1-serial epidermis, sinuous anticlinical cell walls, dorsiventral mesophyll, 1-serial palisade parenchyma and the 3-4-serial spongy border; biconvex midrib, bicolateral, arched; semicircular petiole with lateral, adaxial projections, 5-6-seriate collenchyma and vascular system similar to the midrib, 2 central bundles and 2 accessories in the lateral projections. The stem is irregularly pentagonal, epidermis 1-seriate, angular collenchyma 3-4-seriate, prismatic crystals are observed in the cortex and medullary parenchyma, and the vascular system is amphiphilic siphonostelic. The root is circular, with the endoderm 1-serial, siphonostelic vascular system. Histochemical tests showed a positive reaction for lipids, lignin, starch, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and proteins in the rib, petiole and stem. The anatomical character set of the leaf epidermis, stem and root together with the histochemical data are distinctive for N. physalodes, who support her taxonomy and the quality control of her ethnodrugs.