Occurrence, types and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals in leaves and stems of some species of poisonous plants

Abstract

BackgroundCalcium oxalate crystals, which are found in many organs of plants, have different morphological forms: as druses, prism, styloids, raphides and crystal sand. In this study, the distribution, type and specific location of calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves and stems of the eight species of poisonous plants and one species of nonpoisonous plant were investigated with light microscopy. During study special attention was given to the possible correlation between the presence and types of calcium oxalate crystals and toxic plant organs. The plants examined in this study were Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae), Aristolochia clematitis L. (Aristolochiaceae), Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae), Chelidonium majus L. (Papaveraceae), Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae), Cynanchum acutum L. (Asclepiadaceae), and Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae).ResultsThree types of crystals: druses, prismatic crystals and crystal sands were observed. Druses were identified in the leaves and stems of six species of studied plants. In contrast to druses, crystal sands and prismatic crystals were rare. Prismatic crystals were observed in the leaf mesophlly cells of both Nerium oleander and Cynanchum acutum. However, crystal sands were observed only in the pith tissue of Humulus lupulus. On the other hand, leaves and stems of Chelidonium majus, Aristolochia clematitis and Hypericum perforatum were devoid of crystals.ConclusionThere is no absolute correlation between the presence and type of calcium oxalate crystals and toxic plant organs. However druse crystals may function as main irritant in toxic organs of the plants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1999-3110-55-32) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Leaves of the Extremophile Plant Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. (Caryophyllaceae)

“…The diameter of the druses ranged from 30 µm to 45 µm, which is within the range of sizes determined with light microscopy. The presence of druse-like calcium oxalate crystals in Caryophyllaceae is not rare; there have been reports of the existence of these structures in other plants of this family, such as Silene thymifolia , Saponaria officinalis , Saponaria pamphylica [ 34 , 35 , 36 ], as well as numerous Cactaceae members [ 8 ].…”

A pharmacognostic approach, including phytochemical and GC-MS analysis, targeted towards the authentication of Strobilanthes jomyi P. Biju, Josekutty, Rekha & J.R.I.Wood

“…Rapides are elongated needle-like Calcium oxalate crystals that help in calcium storage, metal detoxification and tissue support and act as a defense mechanism against insects and foraging animals (32). Among all other vegetative parts of S. jomyi.…”

Calcium oxalate crystal macropattern and its usefulness in the taxonomy of Baccharis (Asteraceae)

“…It consists of a mass of small (2–5 μm) individual crystals within a single cell, assuming different forms (Upton et al, 2011). Most studies have described these structures simply as crystal sands without detailing the micromorphology of the crystals (Capacio & Belonias, 2018; Gribner et al, 2022; Konyar & Dane, 2014; Santos et al, 2015). In the present study, nine morphotypes of crystal sands are recorded in the perimedullary region of stems of Baccharis species: arrow‐shaped (sar) (Figure 2a) in B. pauciflosculosa , B. platypoda , B. reticularioides and B. thymifolia ; bipyramidal (sbp) (Figure 2e–g) in B. paniculata B. potrerillana , and B. pluricapitulata ; cuneiform (scn) (Figure 2h) in B. thymifolia ; rounded (sro) (2i, j) in B .…”