MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC EVALUATION OF GLYCOSMIS

PENTAPHYLLA (RETZ.) CORREA LEAVES

Jeera Sanit1, Chalida Thavornpanyaradsamee1, Nattaporn Pan-iam1, Rodsukhon Choimphoo1,

Aksaraporn Jetkasettakorn1, Rawiwan Charoensup1*
1
Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University,
Chiang Rai, Thailand.
*e-mail : rawiwan.cha@mfu.ac.th

______________________________________________________________________________
Abstract
Glycosmis pentaphylla has been use as a Thai traditional medicine for treat various types of skin
diseases, antivirus, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. The macroscopic and microscopic of
G. pentaphylla leaves from Chiang Rai were evaluated according to the WHO guideline of
quality control method for medicinal plant materials. Transverse section of G. pentaphylla leaves
showed upper and lower epidermis, palisade tissue appeared below upper epidermis in lamina
region, phloem, xylem vessels, parenchyma, spongy mesophyll, and vascular bundles.
Microscopic evaluation of G. pentaphylla leaf powder showed tricome, spiral vessel,
parenchyma, oil gland, anomocytic stoma, crystal of calcium oxalate and fiber. The macroscopic
and microscopic evaluation provided the anatomical and histological characteristic of
G. pentaphylla leaves which are a valuable tool for the identification of this plant.
______________________________________________________________________________
Keywords : Glycosmis pentaphylla, macroscopic, microscopic evaluation

Introduction :
Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa, commonly known in Thailand as “Khoei-Tai-Mae-Yai-
Chak-Prok or Som-Chuen” is belonging to the Rutaceae family. G. pentaphylla is a shrub that
distributed in several Asia countries. It has been used as a folk medicine [1,3]. In Thai traditional
medicine, various parts of this plant has been used as antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and
used to treat various types of skin diseases [2]. Previous studies reported that various parts of
G. pentaphylla demonstrated the anti-microbial activity[3,4], anti-bacterial[3,5], anti-inflammation
activity[3,6], antioxidant activity[3], analgesic activity[24], mosquitocidal activity[3], hepatoprotective
activity[3,7,11,14,15,16], wound healing activity[3,17], antidiarrhoel activity[3,18], antipyretic
activity[3,19,23], antidiabetic activity[3,24,25], antiarthitis activity[3,23,25] and antiviral activity[22].
However, the there has been no report on the macroscopic and microscropic of G. pentaphylla
leaves in Thailand. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the macroscopic and
microscopic specification of G. pentaphylla leaves in Thailand.

Materials and methods :

Plant meterials
Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa leaves were collected from Chiang Rai, Thailand. Plant
samples were authenticated by Charoensup R. and compare with the herbarium at Queen Sirikit

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Botanical Garden, Chiang Mai, Thailand which the QBG number 31424. Voucher specimens were
deposited at School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand.

Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation

The characteristic of G. pentaphylla leaves on macroscopic was illustrated as the drawing of the
plant by the author. The anatomical and histological charaters of tranverse section and powder of
G. pentaphylla (Retz.) Correa leaves were examined under microscope to identify the structural
features, and ergastic substances of this plant [27].

Pellucid dots determination

Pellucid dot are small area that has light colored circular areas visible with the leaflet held up to
light. There are ethereal oil, aromatic volatile oil secondary plant products, which glow brightly
when held against the sun [27]. Identification of pellucid dots count number is using the thirty
fractment leaves about 1×1 mm by sampling. Place the fragtment to the slide, add 1-2 drops of
water, then closed with a cover-glass. Inspect under the microscope with a 10X objective and a
10X eyepiece and calculate the average number of pellucid dots.

Result and Discussion :

Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation
G. pentaphylla is an evergreen shrub or small tree with 1-5 meter tall; tri-pinnately compound
leaves with pinnately parallel vein, alternate, elliptic, acute leaf base, acute leaf apex, crenate-
serrate leaf margin, no stipule and petiole 1-5 cm long, the range dimension of leaves is length
11.2-16.8 cm. and width 4.5-6.7 cm. The average dimension of leaves is length 14.06 cm. and
width 5.54 cm.; flowers about 4 mm long, inflorescence axillary, paniculate, branches short,
sepals broadly ovate; a berry, cloudy-pink rape fruit, subglobose, white to pink or crimson, 1-1.5
cm in diameter. Macroscopic and microscopic investigation were illustrate in Figures 1-3.
Cytological and histological characterization proved to be a valuable tool for the identification of
G. pyentaphylla leaves.

Pellucid dots determination

The feature of family Rutaceae had outstanding from the other family which is the plant
containing oil gland. The important characteristic of this family is the pellucid dot on leaves.
G. pentaphylla had the number of pellucid range of 7-20 dots/mm2 and pellucid ratio of 10.55
dots/mm2 (Figure 4).

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Figure 1: The flowering branch of G. pentaphylla Figure 2 : Transverse section of G. pentaphylla leaves
1) Flower 2) Fruit 3) Leaf 1) oil gland 2) palisade tissue appeared below upper
epidermis in lamina region 3) spongy mesophyll 4)
parenchyma 5) parenchyma 6) xylem vessel 7) phloem
8) bundle sheath 9) parenchyma

2
5

1 3 4 6 7

Figure 3: Powder of G. pentaphylla leaves 1) tricome 2) spiral xylem vessel 3) parenchyma 4) oil
gland 5) anomocytic stoma 6) crystal of calcium oxalate 7) fragment of fiber

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 Figure 4: Pellucid dots of G. pentaphylla leaves under microscope

Conclusion :
The present study reported the macroscopic and microscopic as well as the pellucid dot index of
G. pentaphylla leaves in Thailand. Its could be used as the standardization data to identify and
detecting adulteration and grading the quality of plant materials before used as therapeutic drugs.

Acknowledgment :
The authors are grateful to the Mae Fah Luang University for funding the research and providing
laboratory facilities throughout the work.

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