Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria
Abere, T.A., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria; Onwukaeme, D.N., Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria
Purpose: Establishment of the pharmacognostic profile of the leaves of Secamone afzelii (Schult) K. Schum, known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, will assist in standardization, quality assurance, purity and sample identification. Methods: Evaluation of the fresh, powdered and anatomical sections of the leaves were carried out to determine the macromorphological, micromorphological, chemomicroscopic, numerical (palisade ratio, stomata number, stomata index, vein-islet number and veinlet termination number, moisture content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash, alcohol and water soluble extractive values) and phytochemical profiles. Results: Macro-and microscopical studies indicated the presence of pinnately compound leaf, an entire margin with lanceolate shape, acute base, accumulate apex and reticulate venation. Epidermal walls were straight with numerous calcium oxalate crystals. Stomata arrangement was paracytic, with numerous unicellular uniseriate covering trichomes on both surfaces. Chemomicroscopic characters present included lignin, cellulose, mucilage, suberin and cutin, while phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and saponins. The findings also included numerical and quantitative leaf microscopy. Conclusion: These findings could serve as a basis for proper identification, collection and investigation of Secamone afzelii. © Pharmacotherapy Group. All rights reserved.
alcohol; alkaloid; calcium oxalate; cardiac glycoside; cellulose; cutine; lignin; plant extract; saponin; Secamone afzelii extract; suberin; tannin derivative; unclassified drug; article; ash; controlled study; drug identification; drug isolation; drug purity; medicinal plant; microscopy; moisture; mucilage; nonhuman; pharmacognosy; plant epidermis cell; plant leaf; plant stoma; powder; quality control; Secamone afzelii; standardization