B.

Pharm PCG 202:

MORPHOLOGY OF LEAVES

Dr. Ibrahim Malami

Department of Pharmacognosy &

Ethnopharmacy, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Usmanu Danfodiyo University,
Sokoto

Centre For Advanced Medical

Research and Training (CAMRET),
Usmanu Danfodiyo University,
Sokoto
 Objectives

 Describe the basic structural features of leaves used as botanical drugs.

 Identify important medicinal plants and their anatomical characteristics.

 Explain the uses of specific botanical drugs derived from leaves.

 Understand the chemical constituents and their applications in pharmaceutical science.

 Learning Outcomes

By the end of this presentation, students will be able to:

 Recognise the key morphological features of leaves.

 Differentiate between various plant structures and their pharmaceutical relevance.

 Identify common medicinal plants used as botanical drugs.

 Understand the pharmacological uses of botanical drugs and their chemical components.

 Apply knowledge of plant morphology in identifying raw botanical materials.

 MORPHOLOGY OF LEAVES

 The leaves arise out of the stem and their key function
is to:

• assimilation of glucose and its derivative, starch,

from water and carbon dioxide (photosynthesis)
using energy provided by sunlight.

Photosynthesis
CO2 + H2O Monosaccharides
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE LEAVES

Types of arrangements of leaves

 Leaves are flat, thin, green appendages to the

stem. It consists of 2 main parts;

• the petiole (stem)

• lamina (blade)

 The nodes are the parts of the stem where the

leaves and lateral buds join; the intermediate
area is called the internodium.
 Alternate: the leaves form an alternate or helical
pattern around the stem, also called spiral.

 Distichous: there is a single leaf at each node, and the

leaves of two neighbouring nodes are disposed in
opposite positions.

 Opposite: the leaves occur in pairs, with each leaf

opposing the other at the nodes.

 Decussate: this is a special case of opposite, where

each successive pair of leaves is at a right angle to the
previous pair (typical for the mint family).

 Whorled: three or more leaves are found at one node.

Shape of the leaf

 Another important characteristic is the form of the leaves.

Typically, the main distinction is between the leaves;

• Simple
• compound Simple leaves

 Simple leaves have blades that are not divided into distinct
separate leaflets, but form a single blade, which may be
deeply lobed.

 In compound leaves, there are two or more leaflets, which

Compound leaves
often have their own small petioles.
Margin of the leaf
Surface of the leaf

 The surface of a leaf may be smooth or may have some epidermal outgrowths.

• Glabrous: when its surface is smooth and free from hairs.

• Hairy: when it is covered, sparsely or densely, with hairs.

Texture of the leaf

 The texture or feel of the leaf to the touch varies from leaf to leaf and is sometimes very
important in its identification. The texture may be described as:

• Coriaceous (tough and scabrous)

• Papery (thin and pliable)
• Leathery (tough, thick, leather-like)
• Succulent (thick, soft and juicy)
Microscopic characteristics of the leaf

 Microscopic characteristics of leaves include the:

• form and number of stomata

• inner structure of the leaves

• specialised secretory tissues including trichomes (e.g.,

glandular hairs),

• covering trichomes or bristles

• presence of calcium oxalate structures

 SOME IMPORTANT LEAF DRUGS

STRAMONIUM

 Synonyms: Stramonium Leaves, Stramonii Folia,

Thorn apple Leaves, Jimson or Jamestown Weed.

 Botanical source: Stramonium consists of the dried leaves

and flowering tops of Datura Stramonium.

 Geographical source: Datura Stramonium grows wild in most tropical countries including
Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, and South America, and is cultivated in Spain, France,
Germany, Hungary and England.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

 Macroscopical identification: the drug consists of:

• a lot of shrivelled and twisted mass of leaves and

flowers.

• Stramonium leaves are simple, petiolate, 8-25 cm long

and 7-20 cm broad, ovate or triangular-ovate with an
acute apex, a sinuate-dentate margin and an unequal
base.

• The surface is nearly glabrous and yellowish-green to

dark greyish-green in colour; the texture is fragile.
 Microscopical identification:

• Both surfaces of the leaves are covered with a

smooth cuticle
• Stomata are of cruciferous type.
• Both clothing and glandular trichomes are present.
• Clothing trichomes are conical, uniseriate with thin
warty walls, 2-5 cells long, often with a large basal
cell.
• Glandular trichomes are small with a one or two-
celled stalk and a 2-7-celled head.
• Clusters of calcium oxalate are abundant in the
Mesophyll.
 Chemical constituents:

• Contains tropane alkaloids and principal ones being hyoscyamine and hyoscine.

 Medicinal uses:

• it is a parasympatholytic and decreases the flow of secretions of saliva, milk and sweat.
• It is used as a mydriatic agent, as a sedative and an anodyne.

 Substitutes and adulterations:

 the leaves of Datura species are used as substituents and those of the other plants as
adulterants of Stramonium. Example includes: Datura innoxia, D. metel, D. sanguinea, and
D. ferox (substitudes) and species of Xanthium, Carthamus, Solanum nigram and
Chenopodium (adulterants).
SENNA

 Synonyms: Senna Leaves, Folia Sennae

 Botanical source: consists of the dried leaflets of

Cassia senna (Cassia acutifolia) (Known in commerce
as Alexandrian or Egyptian senna).

 Geographical source: Cassia senna is indigenous to tropical Africa and is cultivated in the
Sudan. C. angustifolia is indigenous to Somaliland, Arabia, Sind and the Punjab, and is
cultivated in South India.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

 Macroscopical identification:

• Leaflets are sessile, 2.0 to 3.5 cm (Alexandrian) or

2.5 to 5.0 cm (South India) long

• Lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate in shape

• Pale greyish-green in olour

• Surface pubescent, margin entire, apex acute and

base asymmetrical

• Odour faint

• Taste mucilaginous and somewhat bitter.

 Microscopical identification:

• Epidermal cells are polygonal, straight-walled and contain mucilage.

• Stomata are present on both upper and lower epidermises.

• Trichomes are conical unicellular, thick-walled, warty and frequently curved near the base.

• Numerous clusters of calcium oxalate in the Mesophyll and prisms occur in the form of
sheath along the veins.
 Chemical constituents:

• contains Sennosides A and B, which are based on the aglycones sennidin A and sennidin
B, sennosides C and D, which are glycosides of aloe-emodin and rhein; palmidin A, rhein
anthrone and aloe-emodin glycosides and some free anthraquinones, C. senna usually
contains greater amounts of the sennosides.

 Medicinal uses:

• Senna is used as purgative drug in both casual and habitual constipation.

 Substitutes and adulterations:

• Arabian Senna (Cassia angustifolia), dog Senna (Cassia obovata) and avaram senna
(Cassia auriculata).
DIGITALIS

 Synonyms: Foxglove leaves, Digitalis Folium, Folia

Digitalis, Digitalis leaf

 Botanical source: consists of the dried leaves of

Digitalis purpurea Linn. which are rapidly dried at a
temperature of 50-60 oC immediately after collection.

 Geographical source: The plant grows wild and is also

cultivated in Great Britain, Germany and France.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

 Macroscopical identification:

• Leaves are simple, 10-30 cm long and 4-10 cm broad.

• Broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate with a rounded apex and decurrent base.
• The petiole is winged and varies from ¼ to equal in length to the lamina.
• The upper surface of the lamina is pubescent and dark greyish-green.
• Margin is crenate to serrate or dentate
• Odour is tea-like and tastes bitter.
 Microscopical identification:

• Cells of the upper epidermis have straight or slightly wavy anticlinal and those of the lower
epidermis have strongly wavy anticlinal walls

• Stomata are normocytic (ranunculaceous) type, few on the upper epidermis, but abundant
on the lower

• Both covering and glandular trichomes are present on both surfaces.

• Fibres and calcium oxalate crystals are present.

 Chemical constituents:

• It contains cardioactive glycosides such as digitoxin, digoxin, digitalis as well as the

saponin digitonin. It also contains oxidase enzymes.

 Medicinal uses:

• it is used for heart condition especially congestive heart failure. digoxin increases the force
of myocardial contraction and reduces conductivity within the atrioventricular node.

 Substitutes and adulterations:

• the dried leaves of the other species of Digitalis and other plants are used as substitutes
and adulterant of Digitalis, e.g. Digitalis lutea, D. lanata, D. thapsus e.t.c.
CANNABIS

 Synonyms: Cannabis indica, Indian Hemp, Marijuana,

Marihuana, Ganja
 Botanical source: Cannabis consists of the flowering
and fruiting tops of the female plants of Cannabis sativa
Linn.

 Geographical source: Cannabis plant is indigenous to

Central and Western Asia and is cultivated under
Government control in many countries including India,
East and South African tropical countries and the United
State of America.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES

 Macroscopical identification:

• The leaves are compound, palmate and comprising 5-11

separate leaflets
• The leaf is 10-30 cm long and 5-10 cm wide
• The leaves are lanceolate with serrate margins
• All parts of the drug bear numerous hairs and large
stalked glands containing the resin.
• The whole drug occurs in dull green flattened masses.
• Rough, resinous and harsh to touch
• Has a heavy powerful odour, but no distinct taste
 Microscopical identification:

• The cystolithic hairs contain a deposit of calcium

carbonate at their base. These hairs are mostly
single celled.

• Glandular trichomes are present on the upper

epidermis.

• Both covering trichomes and glandular trichomes

also occur on the lower epidermis.

• Anomocytic stomata are present

 Chemical constituents:

• The chief constituent of the drug is a resinous substance cannabinone.

• Cannabis contains about 400 compounds of which 70 are cannabinoids including:

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Dronabinol), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabidiol (CBD),
Cannabigerol (CBG), Nabilone, Cannabichromene among others.

• Cannabis also contains the alkaloid choline and a small of volatile oil..
 Medicinal uses:

• It is a strong addicting narcotic drug and causes hallucinations.

• It was used to treat conditions such as malaria, constipation and rheumatism.

• Cannabis is also used as sedative, antispasmodic, menstrual cramps, tetanus convulsions,

rabies and epilepsy.

• The modern therapeutic potential of cannabis is Bronchial asthma, epilepsy, Glaucoma,

hypertension, Muscle spasticity, pain, nausea and vomiting, Anorexia (loss of appetite),
HIV infection and multiple sclerosis.