An Anatomical and Microscopical and Chemical Study of Aerial Parts of Chondrilla juncea L. Spread in Syria

Abstract

Background & Objective: The Asteraceae family is one of the families that widely spread in Syria, which includes a large number of medicinal plants, which grow wild, in the mountains, fields and in the desert. Including the species of the genus Chondrilla. By reading the literature, it was found that the type of Chondrilla juncea was not the subject of any previous study. So, our research aimed to study this species anatomically, microscopically and chemically.

Materials & Methods: The plant has been collected from suburb of Qudsaya. First, cross section of the fresh plant stem was performed, and internal composition were determined, and the aerial parts were dried, then microscopic examination of the aerial parts was done. Finally, detection reaction of secondary metabolites were performed.

Result: The anatomical study of the cross section of the plant stem showed presence of the following anatomical characters as parenchymal tissue (medulla), chlorophyll parenchymal tissue under epidermis and sclerenchymal tissue. Also, in the microscopical  study, were identified (thorned pollen grains)  and (epidermis with  anomocytic stomata) in the aerial parts.  Detection reaction showed that the aerial parts contain phenolic compounds including flavonoids and coumarin. However, tannins, anthraquinones, alkaloid, and cardiac glycosides have not existed.

Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind  Chondrilla juncea, where anatomical features of the cross section of the stem and microscopic elements of the aerial parts were determined, as well as a preliminary detection of the secondary metabolites was done. Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and coumarins, were detected. So, it is believed that the plant extracts have potential antioxidant properties.