Abstract The “arnicas” found in Brazil are examples of different species of the family Asteraceae used in popular medicine for its attributed anti-inflammatory action. Among the species known and used as “arnica” we selected: Calea uniflora Less., Chaptalia nutans (L.) Polák, Lychnophora ericoides Mart., Lychnophora pinaster Mart., Lychnophora salicifolia Mart., Lychnophora diamantinana Coile & S.B.Jones, Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass., Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob., Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski, and Solidago chilensis Meyen, due to their extensive use. This research provides new information on leaf morphology and anatomy and on chemistry of the major metabolites found in these species through histochemical tests and phytochemical review. The results revealed anatomical characters for the differentiation and quality control of the vegetal drugs, being these: distinctive epidermal attachments, epidermis cells, parenchymal cells of the mesophyll, vascular bundles, midvein patterns and secretory structures of exudation of secondary metabolites. The review of chemical profiles showed differences in the chemical composition of the species, as different skeletons of sesquiterpene lactones in the species evaluated in addition to other chemical classes such as terpenes, flavonoids, chromenes and phenolic acids derivate. Based on the results obtained in this work it is important to emphasize that the information about the ten species of arnica generate subsidies for differentiation and identification of characteristic markers and for the diagnosis of the species and it can be applied in the “arnicas” quality control.

Resumo Plantas aquáticas apresentam grande plasticidade fenotípica, sendo capazes de ocupar ambientes com diferentes condições físico-químicas da água. O objetivo deste trabalho é caracterizar a morfologia e a estrutura anatômica de Potamogeton polygonus Cham. & Schltdl., e identificar as alterações adaptativas da espécie em ambientes lêntico e lótico. As coletas foram realizadas nos municípios de Palmas e General Carneiro, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Foram coletados dez indivíduos em cada localidade e realizadas mensurações de parâmetros morfológicos e anatômicos de raizes, caules e folhas. A estrutura anatômica foi analisada em microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. Foram constatadas modificações morfológicas e anatômicas de potencial papel adaptativo entre as plantas dos dois ambientes.

Abstract Aquatic macrophytes show great phenotypic plasticity and are able to occupy environments with different physicochemical conditions. The present study aimed to characterize morphology and anatomical structure of the pondweed, Potamogeton polygonus Cham. & Schltdl., and to identify adaptive modifications of the plant in lotic and lentic environments. Sampling was carried out in Palmas and General Carneiro, Paraná state, southern Brazil. Ten individuals from each locality were collected. Morpho-anatomical characteristics of the roots, stems and leaves were measured. The anatomical structure was analyzed with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Significant morphological and anatomical adaptive differences were observed between plants of the two environments.

Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. é uma planta herbácea, que ocorre preferivelmente em locais úmidos. Dentre outras espécies do gênero, esta se destaca pelo grande potencial químico e emprego frequente na medicina popular. Neste estudo, descrevem-se aspectos morfológicos, a anatomia e as características histoquímicas dos órgãos vegetativos, na fase de desenvolvimento em que a espécie é comercializada. A partir de plantas adultas, foram coletadas amostras de raiz, caule e folhas. Esse material foi processado para análise anatômica e histoquímica em microscopia de luz e para análise morfológica, em microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Considerações morfoanatômicas importantes foram acrescentadas para C. carthagenensis, tais como: a ocorrência de felema aerenquimatoso com camadas suberificadas; a identificação dos tipos de tricomas ocorrentes nos órgãos vegetativos; e a caracterização do tricoma secretor, bem como do material secretado. Os grupos de metabólitos secundários presentes nos tecidos da raiz, do caule e da folha de C. carthagenensis que apresentaram reação histoquímica mais intensa foram: proantocianidinas, compostos fenólicos, polissacarídeos ácidos (especialmente mucilagem) e lipídios totais.

Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. is an herb, which occurs preferably in wet places. Amongst other species of the genus, C. carthagenensis is distinguished for its great chemical potential and frequent use in popular medicine. In this study the morphological and anatomical structures were identified, as well as the histochemical characterization was done. Samples of root, stem and leaves were collected from adult plants. This material was processed for anatomical and histochemical analysis in light microscopy and for morphological analysis, in scanning electron microscopy. Important morphological and anatomical considerations were added for C. carthagenensis, such as: the occurrence of aerenchymatous phellem with suberized layers; the types of trichomes present in the vegetative organs, the characterization of secretory trichomes, as well as the secreted substances. The groups of secondary metabolites presents in the root, stem and leaf of C. carthagenensis with more intense histochemical reaction were: proanthocyanidins, phenolic compounds, acids polysaccharides (mucilage especially) and lipids.

Esse trabalho foi desenvolvido com o propósito de subsidiar o controle de qualidade das espécies medicinais Bauhinia forficata Link e B. variegata Linn. Essas foram coletadas em jardins e terrenos baldios de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. As amostras do limbo, pecíolo e pulvino foram fixadas em F.A.A. 50 e conservadas em etanol 70%. O seccionamento do material foi feito em micrótomo de rotação (material incluído em historresina) ou a mão livre e as lâminas foram montadas de forma permanente ou semipermanente. Foram realizadas análises em microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. A folha de B. forficata é alongada, com folíolos unidos em torno da metade do limbo, ápices agudos, superfície adaxial lisa e mucro entre os folíolos. Enquanto que, B. variegata possui folha mais larga que longa, com folíolos unidos na porção terminal do limbo e ápices obtusos. Nos pulvinos de B. variegata ocorrem camadas de colênquima, ausentes em B. forficata. O formato e a bainha de fibras dos pecíolos, em secção transversal, são distintos entre as espécies, assim como a distribuição dos estômatos e tricomas no limbo e a forma do bordo em secção transversal. B. variegata possui maior quantidade de idioblastos com drusas e compostos fenólicos. As características morfológicas e anatômicas de B. forficata e B. variegata contribuem para a identificação e diferenciação das espécies, sendo importantes para o controle de qualidade do material destinado à pesquisa e à indústria farmacêutica.

This work has been developed with the purpose of helping the quality control of the medicinal species Bauhinia forficata Link and B. variegata Linn., which were collected in gardens and vacant lots in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. The samples of leaf blade, petiole and pulvinus were fixed in FAA 50 and preserved in alcohol 70. The sectioning of the material was made in rotational microtome (with the material included in historesine) or manually and the blades were mounted in permanent or semipermanent way. Analyses in photonic and scanning electronic micros betscopy were performed. The leaf of B. forficata is elongated, with the leaflets united around the middle of the leaf blade, acute apices, smooth adaxial surface and mucroween the leaflets. The B. variegata, on the other hand, possesses a broader than long leaf, with the leaflets united in the terminal portion of the blade and obtuse apices. In the pulvinus of B. variegata there are collenchyma layers, which are absent in B. forficata. The shape and the petiole fibers sheath, in cross section, are distinct in both species, as well as the distribution of the stomata and trichomes in the leaf blade and the shape of the border in transversal section. B. variegata possesses a higher quantity of idioblasts with druses and phenolic compounds. The morphologic and anatomic characteristics of B. forficata an B. variegata contribute to the identification and distinction of the species and they are important for the control of the material destined to research and to the pharmaceutical industry.