CARACTERIZAÇÃO FARMACOGNÓSTICA DAS FOLHAS DE EUGENIA UNIFLORA L. (MYRTACEAE)

Abstract

Eugenia uniflora L is popularly used, among other things, as an antihypertertensive, diuretic and adstringent drug. The purpose of this work is to study the leaf and young stem anatomy of E. uniflora and perform a pharmacognostic study with a view to the identification and quality control of vegetal raw materials. The botanical material was collected in Goiânia, Goiás, desiccated and pulverized. The humidity, total ash and acid-insoluble contents were determined. The following stains were used for the microscopic analyses: Alcian-safranin blue 9:1, Steinmetz, Sudan III, ferric chloride, lugol, safrablau. The pulverized material was used for the phytochemical screening, obtention of the crude ethanol extract and subsequently its fractions. The chromatographic profile of the fractions was evaluated by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Cells with thickened wavy anticlinal walls were noted on the epidermis of the adaxial leaf surface while the presence of predominantly anomocytic stomates was noted on the abaxial surface. The petiole presented a concave-convex shape with cortical parenchyma containing druse shaped crystals. Cross section of the young stem revealed an oval shape, colenchyma with one or two cell layers. The phytochemical screening evidenced the presence of tannins, steroids, triterpenes heterosides, anthraquinones, saponins and flavonoids and TLC indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins and terpenes. Results shown may help the identification of the E. uniflora morphoanatomy as well as the quality control parameters for the identification of the plant drug