Significance of leaf morphoanatomical markers for the authentication of adultered drugs sold in herbal markets of district Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

A number of herbal plants sold in herbal markets of Lahore are under adulteration threat which can pose harmful health effects to end‐user. This adulteration problem of medicinal plants can be resolved by the implication of some valuable taxonomic parameter such as leaf epidermal anatomical characteristics. Hence, this research was aimed to provide viable anatomical markers in order to resolve this adulteration issue persisted in some common marketed medicinal plants of district Lahore, that is, Cinnamomum verum Presl., Cinnamomum tamala (Buuch.‐Ham.) T.Nees&Eberm., Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br.ex Sm., Sphaeranthus indicus Linn., Artemisia maritima Linn., Achillea millifolim L., Adhatoda vasica Nees, Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub, and Morus nigra L. Overall multiple anatomical variations (epidermal cell shape, their length and width, type of stomata, length and width of guard cells along with presence or absence of trichomes) had been reported in the study that could be worthwhile for the correct identification of medicinal plants. Irregular shapes of epidermal cells were observed in Cinnamomum verum and Achillea millifolium while pentagonal and polygonal cells were found in their adultaerants, that is, Canella winterana and Adhatoda vasica, respectively. Types of stomata were also strikingly varied among genuine plant and its adulterant, for example, anisocytic stomata were observed in Artemisia maritima while in its adulterant (Artemisia absinthium) anomocytic stomata were found. Similarly, paracytic stomata were observed in Butea monosperma, whereas its adulterant plant (Averrhoa carambola) characteristically possessed anisocytic stomata. Hence, anatomical characteristics were proved to be a valuable taxonomic tool in resolving the adulteration issue of medicinal plants.

Foliar epidermal and trichome micromorphological diversity among poisonous plants and their taxonomic significance

“…The present study examined polygonal epidermal cells with straight AW and paracytic stomata on both surfaces. Ramzan et al (2019) previously described the anatomical characteristics of B. monosperma and found the absence of stomata on the adaxial surface and paracytic stomata on the abaxial surface, which is consistent with the current findings. Glandular, unicellular trichomes with pointed tips were also observed, which were not reported by the earlier work.…”

Chemical profile, antimicrobial activity, and leaf anatomy of Adenophyllum porophyllum var. cancellatum

“…Currently, there are no standard protocols or practices for identifying and evaluating the different plant species or parts used in natural herbal products ( Srirama et al, 2017 ). Different tools have been used to obtain information that helps in the authentication of plant samples, among them are chemical markers and microscopic characteristics ( Ramzan et al, 2019 ). In the case of the anatomical aspects of Asteraceae, several reports using different approaches are published ( Rivera et al, 2019 ).…”

Scanning electron microscopic imaging of palynological metaphors: A case study of family Poaceae taxa

“…Taxonomists are using pollen grains in taxa identification or even to improve classification and systematic position of taxa. Modern taxonomists considered this as one of the most significant taxonomic tool (Mazari et al, 2012; Ramzan et al, 2019; Younis et al, 2020). A recent study reported that palynological data is helpful in solving complex taxonomic problems like inter‐relationship between multiple taxa and rank assessment with relevance to their families, sub‐families, tribes, genera, species, and subspecies (Shaheen et al, 2018).…”