Estudo farmacobotânico de folhas de Malvaceae sesu lato ocorrentes em Cuité - PB.

Abstract

Malvaceae sensu lato is a family of wide distribution in tropical regions due to species of economic and even medical importance, which stand out for being used in popular medicine in the treatment of whooping cough, edema, hepatitis, inflammation, rheumatism, syphilis, ulcers, respiratory and stomach problems, among other uses. In addition, the species have several biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, etc. The present work aimed to carry out a pharmacy-botanical study of leaves in Malvaceae sensu lato species in order to subsidize the quality control of ethno drugs occured in the city of Cuité-PB. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis were performed on leaves with fresh material or hydrated herborized material. For the anatomical study, paradermal and transverse sections were performed in freehand, and subjected to usual techniques and histochemical tests to reveal different compounds, which were analyzed and photomicrographed. The family Malvaceae s.l. is represented in the study area by 13 species of medicinal use: Ceiba glaziovii, Herissantia crispa, Herissantia tiubae, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Melochia tomentosa, Pavonia cancellata, Sida acuta, Sida cordifolia, Sida galheirensis, Sida spinosa Sidastrum paniculatum, Sidastrum micranthum and Waltheria indica. Morphologically, the species have leaf blades that vary from elliptical, lanceolate, oval, obovate to heart-shaped, with entire margins, serrated, crenate; and the indumentum is varied. Anatomically, in cross section, most species presented leaves with unistratified epidermis, anisocytic and anomotetracytic stomata, dorsiventral mesophyll, secretory canals and idioblasts with drusen. As a result, histochemical tests showed the presence of cutin, lignin, and showed a positive reaction for starch, phenolic compounds, and mucilaginous cells for most species. In addition, the main distinguishing characters for the delimitation of the studied species were leaf morphology and indumentum, leaf epidermis anatomy, petiole, mesophyll type, presence of sclerenchyma, secretory channels and vascularization. Thus, through the analysis carried out, it was possible to trace the pharmacobotanical profile of the leaves in medicinal species of Malvaceae s.l. occurring in the city of Cuité-PB.