Comparative Study of Anatomical and Diagnostic Features of the Leaves of the European Dewberry (<i>Rubus caesius</i> L.), Allegheny Blackberry (<i>R. allegheniensis</i> Porter) and European Blackberry (<i>R. nessensis</i> Hall)

Abstract

Introduction. Expansion of the nomenclature of raw materials, including herbal substances, is one of the tasks of the development of the pharmaceutical industry. As an example of a potential and affordable medicinal plant raw material, we can offer the leaves of European dewberry with a proven anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial activity. Medicinal plant – European dewberry (Rubus caesius L.) belongs to the genus Rubus L., which includes many species, often difficult to distinguish between each other. For complete pharmacognostic characteristics of medicinal plant raw materials, microscopic examination is necessary.Aim. To carry out a comparative microscopic analysis of the leaves of R. caesius L., R. allegheniensis Porter and R. nessensis Hall to establish anatomical and diagnostic characters.Materials and methods. Leaf samples were collected on the territory of Moscow and the Moscow region in 2021-2022. Microscopic structures were analyzed using a Leica DM1000 light microscope (Germany) with a 10x/20 eyepiece and 10x/0.25 and 40x/0.65 lenses.Results and discussion. A comparative analysis of the anatomical and diagnostic structures of the leaves of the Rubus caesius L. (European dewberry) and its related species has been carried out. The size and frequency of occurrence per 1 mm2 of simple and glandular hairs and stomata were investigated, the type of stomatal apparatus was established, the shape of epidermal cells and crystalline inclusions in the mesophyll were considered. Conclusion. As a result of the study, differences in the anatomical structures of the leaves of three types of blackberries were revealed. Anatomical and diagnostic characters of Rubus caesius L. leaves have been established, which are indicators of the identification of this raw material, including: the presence of simple one-celled fused at the base trichomes, abundant leaf pubescence (especially on the abaxial epiderm), a large number of stomata (106 ± 37 per 1 mm2), the sinuous shape of epidermal cells, cubic crystals of calcium oxalate in the mesophyll.