The anatomical and micromorphological structure of Myrtus communis L. leaves

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14739/2409-2932.2024.2.298403

Keywords:

Myrtus communis L., plant leaf, leaf anatomy, macro- and microscopic analysis

Abstract

Myrtus communis L. is a promising medicinal plant that has garnered the attention of scientists to introduce it into industrial cultivation as a raw material source for obtaining new phytopreparations. In its chemical composition, Myrtus communis L. contains many biologically active substances, which confer upon it a range of medicinal properties including astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antimutagenic, gastro- and hepatoprotective properties. Published information primarily focuses on the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of common myrtle, with limited data available on its micromorphology.

The aim of the work is to study the morphological and anatomical structure and to determine the general diagnostic microscopic features of common myrtle leaves.

Materials and methods. The object of the research was fresh and dried plant material of common myrtle grown under room conditions. Transverse sections were fixed with Carnois fixative, dehydrated, and paraffinized. The sections were then cut using a Microm HM 325 microtome, followed by deparaffinization. Microscopic analysis of the leaf was performed using temporary preparations on a Carl Zeiss microscope, including the “AxioStar Plus” and “Primo Star”, equipped with a photo attachment for direct and reflected light microscopy.

Results. The external features of common myrtle leaves include their shape, color, size, smell, and type of veining. Anatomically, the leaves exhibit a cuticle, dorsiventral mesophyll, and anomocytic stomata located on the abaxial surface. Additionally, they contain calcium oxalate crystals and druses, as well as simple hairs on the midvein and schizolisogenic secretory receptacles. Histochemical studies of these cavities indicate the presence of lipophilic substances.

Conclusions. The morphological and anatomical analysis of Myrtus communis L., a representative of the myrtle genus, allowed for the identification of key diagnostic microscopic features of myrtle leaves. Further research prospects involve conducting a comprehensive set of phytochemical studies to establish standardization parameters for medicinal plant raw materials.

Author Biographies

O. Ye. Matsehorova, Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Ukraine

Postgraduate student of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Botany

V. M. Odyntsova, Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Ukraine

PhD, DSc, Professor of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology and Botany

References

  1. Dabbaghi MM, Fadaei MS, Soleimani Roudi H, Baradaran Rahimi V, Askari VR. A review of the biological effects of Myrtus communis. Physiol Rep. 2023;11(14):e15770. doi: https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.15770
  2. Shahbazian D, Karami A, Raouf Fard F, Eshghi S, Maggi F. Essential Oil Variability of Superior Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Accessions Grown under the Same Conditions. Plants (Basel). 2022;11(22):3156. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223156
  3. Usai M, Marchetti M, Culeddu N, Mulas M. Chemotaxonomic Evaluation by Volatolomics Analysis of Fifty-Two Genotypes of Myrtus communis L. Plants (Basel). 2020;9(10):1288. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101288
  4. Mechchate H, de Castro Alves CE, Es-Safi I, Amaghnouje A, Jawhari FZ, Costa de Oliveira R, et al. Antileukemic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Activities Induced by a Polyphenol-Enriched Fraction Extracted from Leaves of Myrtus communis L. Nutrients. 2022;14(23):5055. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235055
  5. Berendika M, Domjanić Drozdek S, Odeh D, Oršolić N, Dragičević P, Sokolović M, et al. Beneficial Effects of Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Extract on Rat Health. Molecules. 2022;27(2):581. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27020581
  6. Hennia A, Miguel MG, Nemmiche S. Antioxidant Activity of Myrtus communis L. and Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab. Extracts: A Brief Review. Medicines. 2018;5(3):89. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5030089
  7. Sisay M, Gashaw T. Ethnobotanical, Ethnopharmacological, and Phytochemical Studies of Myrtus communis Linn: A Popular Herb in Unani System of Medicine. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017;22(4):1035-43. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217718958
  8. Kuru Yaşar R, Kuru D, Şen A, Şener G, Ercan F, Ya A. Effects of Myrtus communis L. Extract and Apocynin on Lens Oxidative Damage and Boron Levels in Rats with a High Fat-Diet. Turk J Ophthalmol. 2021;51(6):344-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.4274/tjo.galenos.2021.27981
  9. Giuliani C, Moretti RM, Bottoni M, Santagostini L, Fico G, Montagnani Marelli M. The Leaf Essential Oil of Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina (L.) Nyman: From Phytochemical Characterization to Cytotoxic and Antimigratory Activity in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Plants (Basel). 2023;12(6):1293. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061293
  10. Dib K, Cherrah Y, Rida S, Filali-Maltouf A, Ennibi O. In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Myrtus communis L. and Marrubium vulgare L. Leaves against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Eikenella corrodens. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:8351332. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8351332
  11. Caputo L, Capozzolo F, Amato G, De Feo V, Fratianni F, Vivenzio G, et al. Chemical composition, antibiofilm, cytotoxic, and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of Myrtus communis L. leaves essential oil. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;22(1):142. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-022-03583-4
  12. Torabi I, Sharififar F, Izadi A, Ayatollahi Mousavi SA. Inhibitory effects of different fractions separated from standardized extract of Myrtus communis L. against nystatin-susceptible and nystatin-resistant Candida albicans isolated from HIV positive patients. Heliyon. 2022;8(3):e09073. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09073
  13. Kutlu Z, Gulaboglu M, Halıcı Z, Cınar İ, Dıyarbakır B. Biochemical Research of the Effects of Essential Oil Obtained from the Fruit of Myrtus communis L. on Cell Damage Associated with Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endotoxemia in a Human Umbilical Cord Vein Endothelial Cells. Biochem Genet. 2021;59(1):315-34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-020-10005-y
  14. Cruciani S, Garroni G, Ginesu GC, Fadda A, Ventura C, Maioli M. Unravelling Cellular Mechanisms of Stem Cell Senescence: An Aid from Natural Bioactive Molecules. Biology (Basel). 2020;9(3):57. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology9030057
  15. Ben Hsouna A, Dhibi S, Dhifi W, Mnif W, Ben Nasr H, Hfaiedh N. Chemical composition and hepatoprotective effect of essential oil from Myrtus communis L. flowers against CCL4-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. RSC Adv. 2019;9(7):3777-87. doi: https://doi.org/10.1039/c8ra08204a
  16. Shaapan RM, Al-Abodi HR, Alanazi AD, Abdel-Shafy S, Rashidipour M, Shater AF, et al. Myrtus communis Essential Oil; Anti-Parasitic Effects and Induction of the Innate Immune System in Mice with Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Molecules. 2021;26(4):819. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040819
  17. Mansour RB, Beji RS, Wasli H, Zekri S, Ksouri R, Megdiche-Ksouri W, et al. Gastroprotective Effect of Microencapsulated Myrtus communis Essential Oil against Ethanol/HCl-Induced Acute Gastric Lesions. Molecules. 2022;27(5):1566. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051566. PMID: 35268666; PMCID: PMC8911731.
  18. Mir MA, Bashir N, Alfaify A, Oteef MDY. GC-MS analysis of Myrtus communis extract and its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):86. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-2863-3
  19. Kovalov VM, Marchyshyn SM, editors. Praktykum z identyfikatsii likarskoi roslynnoi syrovyny [Workshop on the identification of medicinal plant raw materials]. Ternopil, UA: Ukrmedknyga; 2014. Ukrainian.
  20. Lisovska TP, Kuzmishyna II, Kotsun LO. Tsytohenetychni osnovy rozvytku orhanizmiv [Cytogenetic bases of the development of organisms]. Lutsk, UA: Druk PP Ivaniuk VP; 2015. Ukrainian.
  21. Odintsova A. [Method for drafting a morpho-anatomical description of the fruit using light microscopy]. Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Biology. 2023;(89):3-19. Ukrainian. doi: https://doi.org/10.30970/vlubs.2023.89.01
  22. Retamales HA, Scherson R, Scharaschkin T. Foliar micromorphology and anatomy of Ugni molinae Turcz. (Myrtaceae), with particular reference to schizogenous secretory cavities. Rev Chil de Hist Nat. 2014;87:27. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-014-0027-x
  23. Kordali S, Usanmaz A, Cakir A, Komaki A, Ercisli S. Antifungal and Herbicidal Effects of Fruit Essential Oils of Four Myrtus communis Genotypes. Chem Biodivers. 2016 Jan;13(1):77-84. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201500018
  24. Ciccarelli D, Andreucci AC, Pagni AM, Garbari F. Structure and development of the elaiosome in Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae) seeds. Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 2005;200(4):326-31. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2004.12.004

Downloads

Published

2024-06-14

How to Cite

1.
Matsehorova OY, Odyntsova VM. The anatomical and micromorphological structure of Myrtus communis L. leaves. Current issues in pharmacy and medicine: science and practice [Internet]. 2024Jun.14 [cited 2026Jun.29];17(2):122-30. Available from: https://pharmed.zsmu.edu.ua/article/view/298403

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Original research

License

Authors who publish with this journal retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
 Лицензия Creative Commons