Resumo Neste trabalho são apresentadas as espécies de Passifloraceae stricto sensu do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A família encontra-se representada por dois gêneros, Mitostemma, apenas com M. glaziovii e Passiflora com 52 espécies representantes dos quatro subgêneros: três espécies pertencentes a P. subg. Astrophea, 12 a P. subg. Decaloba, duas a P. subg. Deidamioides e 35 a P. subg. Passiflora, totalizando 53 espécies, das quais, quatro novas citações para o estado. São apresentadas descrições, fotos, dados de distribuição geográfica e comentários taxonômicos das espécies de Passifloraceae ocorrentes em Minas Gerais.

Abstract In this work, we presented the species of Passifloraceae stricto sensu from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The family is represented by two genera: Mitostemma, only with M. glaziovii, and Passiflora with 52 species in four subgenera: three species belonging to P. subg. Astrophea, 12 to P. subg. Decaloba, two to P. subg. Deidamioides, and 35 to P. subg. Passiflora, with a total of the 53 species, with four new citations for the state. Descriptions, photos, geographic distribution data, and taxonomic comments of Passifloraceae species occurring in Minas Gerais are presented.

ABSTRACT Popularly known as passion fruit, some species of the genus Passiflora are widely used in folk medicines, such as sedatives and tranquilizers in many countries. Although these plants are employed for the same purposes, research with different species of Passiflora has indicated their heterogeneous chemical compositions. Since different chemical compositions can result in varying degrees of therapeutic efficiency, quality control based on the chemical constituents of each species is essential. To that end, the aim of this study was to compare pharmacognostically species of Passiflora in order to establish a chromatographic profile for the quality control of drugs in herbal medicines containing passion fruit. The study was conducted by collecting samples of leaves from twelve Passiflora taxa (i.e., ten species and two forms of P. edulis) – P. actinia, P. alata, P. amethystina, P. capsularis, P. cincinnata, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. edulis f. edulis, P. incarnata, P. morifolia, P. urnifolia, P. coccinea, and P. setacea – from different locations and obtaining their chromatographic profiles via thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Both methods used the flavonoid C-glycosides isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, and isovitexin as reference compounds and could ultimately establish specific profiles for each species. The chromatographic analyses discussed here can be used to assist in determining the quality and authenticity of herbal drugs derived from Passiflora species.

AbstractDetermining the authenticity and quality of plant raw materials used in the formulation of herbal medicines, teas and cosmetics is essential to ensure their safety and efficacy for clinical use. Some Passiflora species are officially recognized in the pharmaceutical compendia of various countries and have therapeutic uses, particularly as sedatives and anxiolytics. However, the large number of Passiflora species, coupled with the fact that most species are popularly known as passion fruit, increases the misidentification problem. The purpose of this study is to make a pharmacognostic comparison between various Passiflora species to establish a morpho-anatomical profile that could contribute to the quality control of herbal drug products that contain passion fruit. This was conducted by collecting samples of leaves from twelve Passiflora taxa (ten species and two forms of P. edulis): P. actinia, P. alata, P. amethystina, P. capsularis, P. cincinnata, P. edulisf. flavicarpa, P. edulis f. edulis, P. incarnata, P. morifolia, P. urnifolia, P. coccinea and P. setacea, from different locations and their morpho-anatomical features were analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Microscopic analysis allowed to indicate a set of characters that can help to differentiate species. These include midrib and petiole shape, midrib and petiole vascular pattern, medium vein shape, presence of trichomes, presence of blade epidermal papillae and sclerenchymatic cells adjoining the vascular bundles. These characters could be used to assist in the determination of herbal drug quality and authenticity derived from a species of Passiflora.