Pharmacognostic study of the leaf of Ageratina adenophora

摘要

Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae), commonly known as Crofton weed or sticky snakeroot, leaves are used for various health conditions in traditional medicines. They are used for treatment such as wound, itching, measles, skin diseases, uterine bleeding and also acts as antibacterial and astringent activity. Macroscopic and quantitative microscopic methods were applied to determine the diagnostic features for the identification and standardization of the fresh leaf samples of A. adenophora. Macroscopically, the leaves were found to have an opposite trowel-shaped serration that are 6-10 cm long by 3-6 cm in width. They have a mild characteristic smell and bitter in taste. They are dark-green in colour, while the stems are reddish in colour. The flowers are creamy white coloured followed by a small brown seed with a white feathery parachute. The light and electron microscope images of cross-section of leaf revealed useful diagnostic features. They have anomocytic type of stomata. The stomatal number, stomatal index, vein islet and vein termination number were determined. In the transverse section of the leaf, collenchyma cells, parenchyma cells, vascular bundles, trichomes, palisade cells, upper and lower epidermis were observed. These findings are helpful in authentication of A. adenophora, as well as in laying down its pharmacopoeial standards.