Eucalyptus cinerea: Microscopic Profile, Chemical Composition of Essential Oil and its Antioxidant, Microbiological and Cytotoxic Activities

Eucalyptus species possess anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal properties. In this study, the chemical composition and biological activities of Eucalyptus cinerea essential oil (EO) and the leaf and stem anatomy were investigated. EO was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and the compounds were identified by GC/MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, and reducing phosphomolybdenum complex. Broth microdilution was used to determine antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity was verified against HeLa, HRT-18, and Calu-3 cells by MTT assay. The cytotoxic mechanism was studied by cell DNA content, cell cycle, and DNA fragmentation. The microscopic analyzes of the leaves and the stems were performed by light microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The main constituent of the EO was 1,8-cineole (55.24%). The EO showed low antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Calu-3 cells showed a significant reduction in viability with IC50of 689.79 ± 29.34 μg/mL. EO at 1000 μg/mL decreased the DNA content in Jurkat cells. In general, EO increased cell percentage in sub-G0 and S phases with concomitant reduction of cell percentage in G0/G1 and G2/M phases and provided DNA fragmentation of 29.73%. Anatomical and micromorphological features of the leaves and stems can help in the species identification and its differentiation from other Eucalyptus species

Investigations on the morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of the European mistletoe: Viscum album L. subsp. album

Viscum album L. (Santalaceae) is an important medicinal plant traditionally used to treat several diseases, including cancer therapy. This paper provides detailed morpho‑anatomical characteristics of the leaves, stems and berries of Viscum album subsp. album growing as hemi‑parasite on the branches of Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh. (Rosaceae) to aid species identification and botanical characterization. Additionally, for the first time, microchemical analyses of all tissues and Energy Dispersive X‑Ray Spectroscopy analyses of the calcium oxalate crystals are provided for the first time. The plant features leathery presents green leaves with parallel veins, small yellow unisexual flowers in 3‑flowered cymes, and the dioecious inflorescences usually consist of three flowers, with female flowers generating white fleshy berries, in which a seed is embedded in the mucilaginous mesocarp, normally containing two embryos. Anatomically, the analyzed leaves were isobilateral and amphistomatic, and showed straight anticlinal epidermal cell walls, thick cuticles with epicuticular wax crystalloids, and paracytic stomata. The midrib is flat on both sides and has a single vascular bundle, whereas the strongly shortened petiole is concave‑convex in shape and contains five bundles. The stems show a primary structure with a ring of nine vascular bundles enclosing the pith. Calcium oxalate druses and cubic and quadrangular prisms were observed in different plant parts. The results of this study provide new microscopy information that can help in the authentication of mistletoe raw materials

Ocotea porosa: Anatomy and histochemistry of leaves and stems, chemical composition, cytotoxicity and insecticidal activities of essential oil

© 2020 by the authors. Ocotea porosa (Nees & Mart.) Barroso, commonly known as imbuia , canela-imbuia or imbuiaamarela in Brazil, is a tree of the Southern Atlantic Forest. The present study investigates the anatomy of leaf and stem, volatile oil chemistry, as well as cytotoxicity and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of O. porosa. Species identification was achieved by anatomy features, mainly due to paracytic and anomocytic stomata; non-glandular trichomes; biconvex midrib and petiole with a collateral open arc vascular bundle; presence of a sclerenchymatous layer, starch grains and crystal sand in the stem; and the presence of phenolic compounds in the epidermis, phloem and xylem of the midrib, petiole and stem. The main volatile components of the essential oil were α-pinene (19.71%), β-pinene (13.86%) and bicyclogermacrene (24.62%). Cytotoxicity against human cancer cell (MCF-7), mouse cancer cell (B16F10) and mouse nontumoral cell (McCoy) was observed as well as insecticidal activity of the essential oil against susceptible \u27Ft. Dix\u27 bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) by topical application

Comparative morphoanatomical analysis of Mikania species

ABSTRACT Mikania belongs to the Asteraceae family and includes a wide range of promising pharmacological activities. Several species of Mikania, which is popularly known in Brazil as “guaco”, occur in Southern Brazil and their external morphology is similar. The aim of this study was to investigate the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the leaf and stem of Mikania campanulata, Mikania cordifolia, Mikania glomerata, Mikania hastato-cordata, Mikania microptera and Mikania sessilifolia as a means of providing additional support for differentiating these taxa. The leaves and stems were investigated by employing scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy techniques. The morphological features of Mikania spp. leaves make it possible to differentiate between the species; nevertheless, when the plants were fragmented or pulverized the anatomical features of the leaves and stems supplied additional helpful data in this regard. The main anatomical characteristics were presence of hypodermis and lens shaped epidermal cells, set of trichomes; midrib, petiole and stem shape and vascular pattern; sclerenchymatous ring in the cortex, sclerenchymatous cells and secretory ducts in the pith

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of The Essential Oil And Anatomical Markers Of Lavandula Dentata L. Cultivated In Brazil

ABSTRACT Lavandula dentata, popularly known as lavender, is commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of digestive and inflammatory disorders. The objective of this study was to analyzed the chemical oil composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil and anatomical markers of the leaf and stem of L. dentata cultivated in South Brazil. Essential oil showed an antioxidant activity similar to rutin and gallic acid when analyzed by phosphomolybdenum method. However, by the free radical DPPH and ABTS methods, it showed a slight potential antioxidant. Essential oil presented 1,8-cineol (63%) as major component, antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria strains and Candida albicans, by broth microdilution. The anatomical profile provided the following main microscopic markers: hypostomatic leaves; diacytic stomata, thin and striate cuticle; multicellular and branched non-glandular trichomes; capitate glandular trichomes; peltate glandular trichomes; dorsiventral mesophyll; flat-convex shape midrib, truncated on the abaxial side; one collateral vascular bundle in the midrib; square stem shape, angular collenchyma alternated with cortical parenchyma; sclerenchymatic fibers well-developed on the four edges

A Comprehensive Description of the Anatomy and Histochemistry of <i>Psychotria capillacea</i> (Müll. Arg.) Standl. and an Investigation into Its Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Mice and Role in Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment

Species of the genus Psychotria are used in popular medicine for pain, inflammatory symptoms, and mental disorders. Psychotria capillacea (Müll. Arg.) Standl. (Rubiaceae) is commonly known as coffee and some scientific studies have demonstrated its therapeutic potential. The goal of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of a methanolic extract obtained from leaves of P. capillacea (MEPC), as well as the micromorphology and histochemistry of the leaves and stems of this plant. In addition, the MEPC was analyzed by UHPLC-MS/MS and the alkaloidal fraction (AF) obtained from the MEPC was tested in a mouse model of inflammation. MEPC contained three indole alkaloids, one sesquiterpene (megastigmane-type) and two terpene lactones. MEPC (3, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and AF (3 and 30 mg/kg) were evaluated in inflammation models and significantly inhibited edema at 2 h and 4 h, mechanical hyperalgesia after 4 h and the response to cold 3 h and 4 h after carrageenan injection. Scopolamine significantly increased the escape latency, and reduced the swimming time and number of crossings in the target quadrant and distance, while MEPC (3, 30 and 100 mg/kg), due to its neuroprotective actions, reversed these effects. AChE activity was significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex (52 ± 3%) and hippocampus (60 ± 3%), after MEPC administration. Moreover, micromorphological and histochemical information was presented, to aid in species identification and quality control of P. capillacea. The results of this study demonstrated that P. capillacea is an anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic agent that can treat acute disease and enhance memory functions in mouse models