DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Assessment of anatomical characteristics of the medicinal plant African cherry (Prunus africana) for its accurate taxonomic identification

  • Komakech, Richard (Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), Ministry of Health) ;
  • Yang, Sungyu (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM)) ;
  • Song, Jun Ho (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM)) ;
  • Choi, Goya (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM)) ;
  • Kim, Yong-Goo (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)) ;
  • Okello, Denis (Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM)) ;
  • Omujal, Francis (Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), Ministry of Health) ;
  • Kyeyune, Grace Nambatya (Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), Ministry of Health) ;
  • Matsabisa, Motlalepula Gilbert (IKS Research Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State) ;
  • Kang, Youngmin (Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), Ministry of Health)
  • Received : 2021.12.05
  • Accepted : 2022.05.03
  • Published : 2022.06.30

Abstract

The genus Prunus (family: Rosaceae) consists of over 400 plant species and exhibits vast biodiversity worldwide. Given the wide distribution of this genus, its taxonomic classification is important. Anatomical characteristics are conserved and stable and can therefore be used as an important tool for the taxonomic characterization of plants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and document the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem, and seed of P. africana using micrographs and photographs for possible use in the identification, quality control, and phylogenetic analysis of the species. The anatomical sections of a young stem revealed a cortex consisting of isodiametric parenchyma cells, druse crystals, primary vascular bundles, and pith. The mature stem bark majorly consisted of the rhytidome, with the periderm densely arranged in multiple layers; a cluster of stone cells; and sclerenchyma. The leaf sections were hypostomatic, with stomata sizes ranging from 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 × 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 ㎛. The leaf sections showed the presence of characteristic druse crystals, vascular bundles, and mesophyll layers. The pericarp contained the epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with their thickness being approximately 350-400, 300-350, and 30-50 ㎛, respectively. In addition, it contained a seed testa with a thickness of approximately 50-60 ㎛. The morphological and anatomical characteristics observed in P. africana leaves, stems, and seeds in this study could serve as useful data for the taxonomic identification of this species.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the framework of International Cooperation Program (Korea-South Africa Cooperative Research Project for Excavation of Candidate Resources of Complementary and Alternative Medicine) managed by National Research Foundation of Korea (grant no. 2017093655 and KIOM: D17470). Additionally, this work was also supported by Development of Foundational Techniques for the Domestic Production of Herbal Medicines (K18405), Development of Sustainable Application for Standard Herbal Resources (KSN2013320), Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine through the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea.

References

  1. Abdulrahaman A, Egbedo FO, Oladele F (2009). Stomatal complex types, stomatal density, and the stomatal index in some species of Dioscorea. Archives of Biological Sciences. 61. 10.2298/ABS0904847A
  2. Araujo SJ, Azevedo AA, Silva CL, Meira AS (2010). Leaf anatomy as an additional taxonomy tool for 16 species of Malpighiaceae found in the Cerrado area (Brazil). Plant Syst Evol. 286:117-131 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-010-0268-3
  3. Bastin ES (1895). Structure of our cherry barks. The American Journal of Pharmacy. 67:435-453
  4. Biswajit D, Ahmed N, Pushkar S (2011). Prunus diversity-early and present development: A review. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation. 3:721-734
  5. Crang R, Lyons-Sobaski S, Wise R (2018). Epidermis. In: Plant Anatomy. 279-318. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77315-5_9
  6. De Souza FMD, Sa DR, Araujo E, Randau PK (2018). Anatomical, phytochemical and histochemical study of Solidago chilensis Meyen. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. 90: 2107-2120 https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201720160280
  7. Evert RF (2006). Esau's Plant Anatomy. Wiley-Interscience, New Jersey. 2006; 601p
  8. Franceschi RV, Nakata AP (2005). Calcium oxalate in plants: Formation and function. Annual Review of Plant Biology. 56:41-71 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106
  9. Hong T, Lin H, He D (2018). Characteristics and correlations of leaf stomata in different Aleurites montana provenances. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208899
  10. Ilarslan H, Palmer RG, Horner HT (2001). Calcium oxalate crystals in developing seeds of soybean. Ann Bot. 88:243-257 https://doi.org/10.1006/anbo.2001.1453
  11. Jimu L (2011). Threats and conservation strategies for the African Cherry (Prunus africana) in its natural range-A review. Journal of Ecology and Natural Environment. 3:118-130
  12. Kolb LK, Gomes AMS, Lombardi AJ (2020). Leaf anatomy as a taxonomy tool for the identification of Brazilian native species of Chionanthus (Oleaceae). Flora. 266:151-590
  13. Komakech R, Kang Y (2019). Ethnopharmacological Potential of African Cherry [Prunus africana]. J. Herb. Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2019.100283
  14. Komakech R, Kim YG, Kim JW, Omujal F, Yang S, Moon CB, Okello D, Rahmat R, Kyeyune NG, Matsabisa GM, Youngmin Kang Y (2020). A Micropropagation Protocol for the Endangered Medicinal Tree Prunus africana (Hook f.) Kalkman: Genetic Fidelity and Physiological Parameter Assessment. Front. Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.548003
  15. Komakech R. Kang Y, Lee JH, Omujal F (2017). A Review of the Potential of Phytochemicals from Prunus africana (Hook f.) Kalkman Stem Bark for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy of Prostate Cancer. eCAM. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3014019
  16. Konyar TS, Ozturk N, Dane F (2014). Occurrence, types and distribution of calcium oxalate crystals in leaves and stems of some species of poisonous plants. Botanical Studies. 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/1999-3110-55-32
  17. Kotina EL, Oskolski AA, Tilney PM, Van Wyk BE (2016). Bark and wood structure of Prunus africana (Rosaceae), an important African medicinal plant. South African Journal of Botany. 106:89-95 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2016.04.015
  18. Lersten RN, Horner TH (2004). Calcium oxalate crystal macropattern development during Prunus virginiana (Rosaceae) leaf growth. Canadian Journal of Botany. 82. https://doi.org/10.1139/b04-145
  19. Lersten RN, Horner TH (2006). Crystal macropattern development in Prunus serotina (Rosaceae, Prunoideae) Leaves. Ann Bot. 97:723-729. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcl036
  20. Mukherjee A (2014). Botanical identification of medicinal plants: A biosystematics contemplation. Indian J Sci Res. 9:076-083. 2014. DOI: 10.5958/2250-0138.2014.00013.3
  21. Steenkamp V (2003). Phytomedicines for prostate. Fitoterapia. 74: 545-552 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(03)00155-2
  22. Vaughan JG (1968). Seed anatomy and taxonomy. Proceedings Linnean Society London. 179:251-255 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1968.tb00982.x
  23. Vincenzo V, Cardini A (2011). Leaf Morphology, Taxonomy and Geometric Morphometrics: A Simplified Protocol for Beginners. 6:e25630. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0025630
  24. Wilkinson HP (1979). The plant surface (mainly leaf). In: Metcalfe CR, Chalk L, editors. Anatomy of the cotyledons, 2nd ed. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. 1:97-165
  25. Yeung EC, Chan CKW (2015). Glycol methacrylate: the art of embedding and serial sectioning. Botany. 93:1-8 https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2014-0177