Stomatal index, stomata and glandular hairs in quality control

In the context of quality controls, there are assays aimed at evaluating specific aspects, applied to the study of drugs characterized by particular organs. For leaf drugs, for example, the evaluation of the stomatal index is important. This parameter represents a numerical value, compared as a percentage, which measures the number of stomata present on a certain quantity of epidermal cells.

The stomatal index is a microscopic element, obtained on the basis of a certain epidermal area of ​​the leaf, within which the epidermal cells and stomata present are counted; the ratio obtained between the two values ​​is then compared in%, obtaining a specific data and characteristic for certain species, capable of discriminating them even from similar species.A striking example is the distinction of Cassia acuteleaf from the Cassia angustifoglia, shrub species belonging to the Leguminosae family and from which senna, a laxative-stimulating drug, is obtained. The stomatal index allows us to establish whether the drug derives mainly from India (Cassia acuteleaf), from Africa (Cassia angustifoglia) or a mixture of the two.

The stomatal index is a microscopic criterion for the discrimination of related drugs and, even more so, can bring to light any biological contaminants (which have stomatal indices considerably different from that typical of drugs).

Another parameter to be evaluated, again at the stomata level, is their type with reference to the stomatal categories, identified on the basis of the different arrangement of the companion cells compared to the guard cells. This classification identifies different types of stomata, the main and most widespread are four:

paracytic: the companion cells are arranged with the major axis parallel to the stomatal rim
Diacitic: the companion cells are arranged with the axis orthogonal to the stomatal rim
Anisocytic: There are three companion cells around the stoma
Anomocytic: cells have a disordered arrangement around the stoma

A further identification parameter is the palisade index, which evaluates, at a microscopic level and in cross section of the leaf (leaf mesophyll), the number of palisade cells underlying an epidermal cell; also the study of this index is useful for revealing the identity of the drug and its quality.

Other microscopic parameters that evaluate the identity and quality of a drug reside in the observation of particular histological structures, always of epidermal derivation, such as secretion structures and in particular the glandular hairs.

The evaluation of the glandular hair is important because it not only represents an index of the identity and quality of the drug (the glandular hair is a bald hair, typical of the Labiates), but also provides useful information on the balsamic time.

The balsamic time is an ontogenetic time of the plant, which measures its age and biological cycle, therefore also the exact moment in which that particular structure developed and the way in which it did so. In the Labiates it is very important to evaluate the secretion structures and their morphology, since the active principles and the phytocomplex are derived from the glandular hairs. Lavender oil and rosemary oil, for example, are obtained, by extraction, from the secretion of these glandular hairs. If on microscopic observation the number of secretory cells present on the head of the hair is less than 7, it means that the drug was collected too early.

Other articles on "Stomatal index, stomata and glandular hairs in quality control"

1. Chemical and biological assays in quality control
2. Pharmacognosy
3. Histochemical assays on fresh and dried drugs

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