Morphological, Anatomical, Phytochemical And Histochemical Studies On Some Physalis (Solanaceae) Species

ABSTRACT

The medicinal plants investigated were three species of Physalis belonging to the family Solanaceac. The aim of this research is to identify the existing differences and similarities among these species. They were also chemically screened for their chemical constituents including alkaloids, taimnins, flavanoids, saponins, hydrogen cyanide, terpenoid, steroid, etc. the Species were physalis angulata, P. ixocarpa and peruviana. The studies were carried out on the stem, leaves, roots and flowers of the taxa. Morphological, anatomical, histochemical significant features of the leaf, stem and root were noted and discussed. Trichomes from one of the three species (P. ixocarpa) were long, multicellular and found mostly on the lower epidermis of the leaf'. The presence of calcium oxalate crystals were observed in the leaf stem and root of the species investigated. The three species contain such chemical compounds as alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, hydrogen cyanide. Some of these constituent were found in trace quantity. This paper explained and discussed observed results with the aid of available literature.