Pharmacognostic Characterization of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae)

Background: Spondias mombin L. is fruit specie found in Tropical America and the coast of Africa, popularly known as cajazeira. Several researches with extract of leaflets show a diversity of promising pharmacological activities such as antibacterial activity, antiviral against dengue virus type 2, anti diabetic, among others. Objective: This paper aims to study the anatomical characteristics, phytochemical and histochemical from leaves of this species. Materials and Methods: Cross and paradermic sections from leaves were submitted to double staining with astra blue and safranin process for the anatomical study. Anatomical analysis of the structures was performed using an optical microscope. For ultra structure analysis, the leaf fragments, after processing and gold coating, were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phytochemical analyses were performed using thin layer chromatography and the histochemical analyses using specific reagents for each metabolite group. Results: The leaf has anomocytic and tetracytic stomata distributed on abaxial surface. The midrib has convex symmetry with collateral vascular bundles in a closed arc disposition. The phytochemical showed the presence of mono and sesquiterpenes, triterpenes and steroids, hydrolysable tannins, phenylpropanoid glycosides, cinnamic derivatives and flavonoids. The histochemical tests allow us to state that phenolic compounds are found in the palisade parenchyma cells. Lignins can be found in woody vascular bundles and in perivascular sclerenchyma fibres. The volatile oils were evidenced in the schizogenous cavity, present in the parenchyma of the midrib. Conclusion: The results allowed characterizing anatomically the leaves of this species, outlining a profile of its phytochemical constituents and, in addition, determining which anatomical structures of storage of these metabolites by the plant.