Determination of the authenticity of lemon balm leaves by morphological and anatomical features

Authors

  • Олена Валеріївна Савельєва National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002, Ukraine
  • Інна Миколаївна Владимирова National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002, Ukraine
  • Людмила Михайлівна Сіра National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2313-8416.2016.59036

Keywords:

the authenticity, lemon balm, leaf, macroscopic features, microscopic features, properties, the use

Abstract

Lemon balm herb is successfully used for medicinal purposes. Remedies containing lemon balm have sedative, antispasmodic, and antibacterial properties.

 Quality of the original herbal material is important when using herbal remedies. Therefore, in herbal material harvesting special attention is paid to determination of its authenticity, and one of its components is specification of macroscopic and microscopic diagnostic features.

Aim. The purpose of the given research was determination of the authenticity of lemon balm leaves by morphological and anatomical features.

Methods. Samples of lemon balm leaves, gathered in Kharkov region, and fixed in the mixture of ethanol, glycerin and water, have been used for research. Light microscopy methods have been used for study of cells and tissues of lemon balm leaves.

Results. The main diagnostic morphological features, regulated by the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine 2.0 Monograph “Melissa leaf”, have been determined by macroscopic analysis: the leaf blade size and shape (the leaf blade is broadly ovoid, up to about 8 cm long and 5 cm wide, with pointed tip, and has rounded or cordate base), the margin shape (the leaf margins are crenate or roughly dentate); the lamina’s color and venation (the upper surface is bright green, the lower surface is pale green, with conspicuous midrib and raised reticulate venation); leaf pubescence (diffuse trichomes occur on the upper surface and on the lower surface along the veins).

At microscopic research the powder must show fragments of the leaf upper epidermis (top view) cells with sinuous walls, sometimes with palisade surrounding parenchyma; fragments of the leaf lower epidermis with diacytic stomata; typical trichomes (short, straight, unicellular, conical covering trichomes; multicellular, uniseriate covering trichomes with pointed ends; secretory trichomes); eight-celled secretory glands of the lamiaceous type (top view).

Conclusion. The authenticity of lemon balm leaves by macroscopic and microscopic features has been determined. Diagnostic morphological and microscopic features, regulated by the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine 2.0 Monograph “Melissa leaf”, have been defined in the studied herbal material

Author Biographies

Олена Валеріївна Савельєва, National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002

Department of Quality, Standardization and Certification of Medicines

Інна Миколаївна Владимирова, National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002

Doctor of pharmaceutical sciences, associate professor

Department of Quality, Standardization and Certification of Medicines

Людмила Михайлівна Сіра, National University of Pharmacy 53 Pushkinska str., Kharkov, Ukraine, 61002

Candidate of pharmaceutical sciences, associate professor

Department of Botany

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Published

2016-01-29

Issue

Section

Pharmaceutical Sciences