Pharmacobotanical study of aerial vegetative parts of Baccharis anomala DC., Asteraceae

Pharmacobotanical study of aerial vegetative parts of Baccharis anomala DC., Asteraceae. The genus Baccharis belongs to the family Asteraceae and includes medicinal species. Baccharis anomala DC., popularly known as " uva-do-mato" and " cambara-do-cipo" in Portuguese, is used as diuretic in folk medicine and phytochemical studies have demonstrated the presence of tannins and saponins. This work has aimed at studying the macro and microscopic aspects of the leaf and stem of this species. The botanical material was prepared according to standard light and scanning microtechniques. The leaf blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin and striate cuticle. Anomocytic stomata are encountered on the abaxial surface. On both sides there are two types of non-glandular trichomes. They are multicellular and uniseriate, one type ending with an acute apical cell and the other with a flagelliform cell. The mesophyll is isobilateral and the midrib is plain-convex, being traversed by one collateral vascular bundle. The petiole shows three collateral vascular bundles arranged in open arc. The stem exhibits circular cross-section and uniseriate epidermis, with trichomes similar to those of the leaf. Angular collenchyma and chlorenchyma alternate in the cortex and perivascular fibres adjoin the phloem. The cambial zone is evident and the phloem is formed outwards and the xylem inwards. The pith is parenchymatic. Secretory ducts are associated with the vascular system in the leaf and stem.