Microscopic identification of Echinops spinosus ssp.bovei (Boiss.) Murb. using multivariate tests

Abstract

The genus Echinops (Asteraceae family, Echinopeae class) comprises ca. 120 species and is native to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. In Algeria, this genus is represented by the very common species Echinops spinosus L., also known as "Tesskra", which is used as a diuretic, hypoglycemic, liver disorders, for post-partum care, and for its stomachic effects. The aim was to generate microscopic parameters of the aerial parts which could be used to identify and authenticate Echinops powders. The present study reports, for the first time, the detailed pharmacognostic characters of the different parts of E. spinosus, through microscopic approaches, coupled with statistical techniques, to analyze the structural observations. Multivariate tests were used to determine the complex relationships among the studied variables. Fifty observations were analyzed from the leaves, flowers, and roots of E. spinosus. As a result, fourteen key microscopic features were identified and analyzed by correspondence analysis. The sclereid fibers were positively linked on the first factor (0.600, 0.591), but weakly related to the second factor (0.090, 0.004). It is proposed that microscopic analysis, coupled with statistical analysis, could provide a simple platform for medicinal plant identification. This will be of particular importance for the rapid identification of medicinal plant powders used as a medicinal agent, and may be helpful in developing pharmacopoeial standards for traditional medicines in Africa.

In Vivo Efficacy of Echinops spinosus Decoction as a Therapeutic for Cows at Risk of Clinical Endometritis

“…In this study, we investigated the clinical outcome of using the Teskra plant to reduce the occurrence of CE. Ethnobotanical reports stated that E. spinosus hastens uterine involution and cures postpartum diseases [ 15 , 34 ]. Furthermore, Echinops species are frequently used for symptomatic treatment of inflammation, pain, and fever, and to resolve peripartum problems such dystocia and RMF [ 17 ].…”

HR-LC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS-Based Metabolic Profiling Coupled with Chemometrics for the Discrimination of Different Echinops spinosus Organs and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity

“…Eleven compounds were previously reported in other Echinops species and were identified here for the first time in E. spinosus as quinic acid (2), neochlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid) (6), chlorogenic acid (5-Ocaffeoylquinic acid) (7), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (cynarin) ( 9), apigenin-6-O-arabinoside-8-O-galactoside (13), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid ( 14), apigenin-6-O-arabinoside-8-O-glucoside (15), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (16), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (17), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (18), and rutin (21) [32][33][34][35][36]. However, seven compounds were previously reported in plants of the Asteraceae family, but not from the Echinops species, and have been identified as protocatechuic acid hexoside (4), dicaffeoyl altraric acid (8), dicaffeoyl altraric acid isomer (12), tricaffeoylaltraricric acid (19), shimobashiraside C (23), trihydroxy-octadecadienoic (9,12,13trihydroxy-10,15-octadecadienoic acid, (9,12,13,TriHODE(10,15)) acid (28), and trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid (9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoic acid, 9,12,13-TriHOME(10), pinellic acid) (33) [32,[37][38][39][40]. However, five compounds were identified for the first time in the genus Echinops and in the family Asteraceae.…”

“…E. spinosus is widely used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases [7]. The internal part of the inflorescence is used for kidney ailments [8], in post-partum care [9], and as a hypoglycemic plant for treating diabetes mellitus [10].…”