Pharmacognostic Evaluation on the Leaves of Ludwigia Abyssinica Rich (Onagaraceae)

Abstract

Ludwigia abyssinica belongs to the family Onagaraceae, it is native to South America, well distributed in Africa and traditionally used in the treatment of generalized back pain, various skin infections, gastrointestinal and wound disorders. The objective of the study is to establishes some important pharmacognostic profile of L. abyssinica leaves with the hope of assisting in its proper identification as well as standardization for quality and purity. Evaluation of the fresh and powdered sample of the leaves was carried out to determine the micromorphological, chemomicroscopic and some physicochemical parameters of the plant. The microscopy revealed the presence of anomocytic type of stomata in both adaxial and abaxial epidermis with irregular epidermal cells and deeply wavy anticlinal walls on the upper epidermis and with sinous anticlinal walls and polygonal shaped epidermal cells on the lower epidermis. Chemomicroscopic characters present include; cellulose cell wall, lignified cell wall, tannins, starch, calcium oxalate and cutin. The physicochemical parameters evaluated include: moisture content (7.00%), total ash (7.80%), water soluble (4.67%), acid insoluble (2.33%), ethanol extractive value (17.00%), and water extractive value (19.70%). Quantitative leaf microscopy, had shown that on the average stomata number (8.00), stomatal index (12.12%) on upper epidermal layer while on the lower epidermal layer the stomatal number and index were  (20.00) and (16.80%) respectively, palisade ratio (13.00), vein islet number (12.00), and vein termination number (11.00). The results of this investigation may be useful for the compilation of a suitable monograph on L.abyssinica.