Estudo farmacobotânico dos órgãos vegetativos de Ruellia asperula (Mart. & News) Lindas (ACANTHACEAE).

Abstract

Ruellia asperula (Mart. & Nees) Lindau is a species of Acanthaceae native and endemic to Brazil, occurring in caatinga and montane forests of the Northeast and Southeast regions of Minas Gerais. Known popularly as "candle" or "red-eared", its leaves and roots are used in folk medicine in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, fever and uterine inflammation. This work presents a pharmacological study of root, stem and leaves of Ruellia asperula located in the city of Cuité-PB, aiming to recognize characters for their identification and delimitation. Macroscopic and microscopic analyzes were performed on fresh and hydrated samples of herbal material. For the anatomical study, the root, stem and leaves sections, clarified and stained with safranin and / or safrablue, were observed and photographed under an optical microscope. Ruellia asperula is a grass sub-bush, with crossed viscous-looking opposite leaves; the petiole is flattened, grooved; Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, membranaceous, with entire to wavy margin, apex is acute and an attenuated base, sericeous indumento and staxial adaxial and abaxial faces; the stem is cylindrical, grayish in color, and a root and axial type, with a light brown and brown heart. In relation to the anatomy, such as leaves and anisthyomatic epidermis, with diactic stomata, anticlinal walls turn to slightly sinuous in both as faces; lithocysts containing calcium carbonic cystolites, dorsiventral mesophyll, vascular system formed by a single collateral bundle in the main vein, and three petiole bundles, and angular type colenchyma. The stem has a circular contour, with a central cylinder with a continuous ectophonic sifonostolic structure. The root has radiated protostélica structure, and aeriferous parenchyma in the cortical region. The histochemical tests evidenced a presence of lignin, cutin, as well as demonstrated a positive reaction for starch and phenolic compounds. An anatomy of the leaf epidermis, presence of inclusions and vascularization, together with a vascular organization of the capillary and race of the main distinctive characters for the recognition of R. asperula.