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

Adenophyllum porophyllum var. cancellatum, known as “árnica del monte” in Mexico, is an aromatic annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family that grows from southern Arizona to central Mexico. The aerial parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine to treat skin diseases such as irritations, infections, and wounds. In this study, the essential oil of this plant was characterized, and its antimicrobial activity was evaluated. This species has large glands in its leaves; therefore, for quality control purposes, an anatomical study of the leaves was performed. The essential oil was isolated from the aerial parts of the plant through hydro-distillation and analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system. Its anti-yeast activity was evaluated against three Candida species and ten bacterial strains using the disk diffusion technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using broth microdilution. Anatomical study was performed on the middle part of the leaf. A yield of 0.5% of the essential oil was obtained from the herb, and Eighteen compounds in the essential oil were identified, within them trans pinocamphone (29.5%), limonene (24.7%), pinocarvone (21.8%), and cis pinocamphone (8.0%) were the main components. The inhibition zones were between 10 mm and 20 mm, and the MIC and MFC against the three Candida species ranged from 60 to 500 μg/ml. The leaf anatomy showed anisocytic stomata, simple and glandular trichomes of different types, and large and elliptical-shaped lysigenous glands, which can be used for taxonomic identification. The A. porophyllum var. cancellatum essential oil can serve as an alternative source of natural antimicrobial agents as an affordable approach to control infectious diseases. This is the first study that reports the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil, as well as the leaf anatomy of this species.

Verbesina crocata: A pharmacognostic study for the treatment of wound healing

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Verbesina crocata (Cav.) Less. (Arnica or Capitaneja) is an endemic plant from Mexico restricted to the western part of the country. The aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns. The objective of this investigation was to carry out a pharmacognostic study of V. crocata and establish markers that allow for the recognition of the characteristics of the plant and validate its traditional use. The study includes anatomical and chemical characteristics of the plant as well as evaluations of its antioxidant capacity and wound healing ability in a murine model.

Materials and methods

An anatomical study of V. crocata was performed on the middle part of the leaf and stem. A methanolic extract of this species (VcME) was obtained by methanolic maceration of the aerial parts. Subsequently, a partition of the VcME was made to obtain a hexanic fraction (VcH). The phytochemical preliminary screening and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) of the VcME and VcH were performed. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were quantified. The wound healing capacity of the methanolic extract was determined in CD-1 mice by the healing rate, the tensiometric method, and histological analysis.

Results

The anatomical study of V. crocata showed the presence of two types of secretory structures and their position on the leaves. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein and trichomes are potentially useful for recognition of the species. Chemical compounds detected by HPLC-ESI/MS reveal the presence of sitosterol glycoside and catechin derivatives as principal constituents of V. crocata. The VcME showed low antioxidant capacity and total phenolic. V. crocata had a similar healing effect to Recoveron® in the tensiometric method, but the rate of healing was higher. According to the histological analysis, the treatment of V. crocata promoted the remodelling phase 15 days after the incisional wound.

Conclusion

This is the first pharmacognostic study of this species that covers the plant anatomy, chemical content and biological properties related to its traditional use. V. crocata favours wound healing according to physical and histological evaluations. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein, trichomes and catechin glycosides are potentially useful for the recognition of this species.

Development of successive cambia, cambial activity, and their relationship to physiological traits in Ipomoea arborescens (Convolvulaceae) seedlings

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

The seedling stage is one of the most critical phases in the life history of plants; during this stage, plants must develop efficient conductive and storage systems before the end of the favorable season. Little is known about the origin of successive cambia in seedlings of tree species of Ipomoea or about how many cambia are produced in one growth season. We studied the anatomy of Ipomoea arborescens seedlings to defi ne when cambium is differentiated, to determine how many cambia differentiate in one year of growth, and to relate the development of successive cambia to physiological aspects of growth.

METHODS

Seedlings from 5 to 425 d of age were harvested, and their morphology as well as CO(2) and water exchange, were evaluated at 5 and 60 d after germination. Six stages of development were established to study origin of cambia.

KEY RESULTS

Cambium was differentiated 5 d after germination, at a time when seedlings had photosynthetic cotyledons with high specific area, assimilation rate, and stomatal conductance. Differentiation of the fi rst successive cambium occurred inparenchyma cells below the endodermis or starch sheath. Development of reverse cambium and intraxylary phloem cambiumdemonstrated that ontogenetic shifts may occur in different stem regions. In the 10-mo-old plants, all cambia reactivated, and earlywood wide vessels were differentiated.

CONCLUSIONS

The origin of successive cambia, the occurrence of more than one type of cambium, and parenchyma proliferation are features shared by I. arborescens with its climbing ancestors as a strategy for survival in the harsh environment of tropical deciduous forests.

[Architecture and leaf anatomy of the Polypodium plesiosorum sensu Moran complex (Polypodiaceae)]

Architecture and leaf anatomy of the Polypodium plesiosorum sensu Moran complex (Polypodiaceae). The Polypodium plesisorum complex is a heterogeneous morphology group. We studied leaf architecture and anatomy of 12 species of this group, in addition to other 23 species of Polypodium (P. dulce, P. polypodioides and P. vulgare complex sensu Moran) and related genera (Goniophlebium, Phlebodium, Pleopeltis, Serpocaulon, Synammia), for comparative purposes. Two homogeneous groups of species were established in P. plesiosorum complex. One of them is recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type III): Polypodium conterminans (originally considered in the group of P. dulce with free venation by Moran), P. hispidulum, P. plesiosorum and P. rhodopleuron. The second group with Polypodium arcanum, P. castaneum, P. colpodes, P. eatonii, and P. flagellare were recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type IV) and how vascular strands fuse along the petiole-leaf rachis. Characters studied helped to group the remaining species with other groups outside the complex under study.