COMPARATIVE LEAF ANATOMY OF SOME ASYNEUMA GRISEB. & SCHENK TAXA

Abstract

Objective: The Asyneuma Griseb. & Schenk is represented by 34 accepted species worldwide and its native range covers a wide area from East Central Europe to Japan and Northern Indo-china. The plants of Asyneuma are characterized by herbaceous, simple or branched inflorescences, purple, violet or blue corolla and capsule fruits. Studies show that the Campanulaceae family contains bioactive compounds phenylethanoid (phenylproponoid), alkaloids, cyanogenetic heteroside, flavonoid, triterpene, anthocyanin, phenolic acid, essential oil, coumarin and polysaccharide. In addition, it is known that plants in the family have antioxidant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiobesity, expectorant antihepatotoxic, antitumoral, antiatherosclerotic, neuroprotective, antidepressant, tonic and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. In this study, the anatomical structures of Asyneuma limonifolium subsp. limonifolium, A. limonifolium subsp. pestalozzae (Boiss.) Damboldt, A. linifolium subsp. linifolium and A. linifolium subsp. nallihanicum Kit Tan & Yıldız leaves were examined. Material and Method: Asyneuma limonifolium subsp. limonifolium, A. limonifolium subsp. pestalozzae (Boiss.) Damboldt, A. linifolium subsp. nallihanicum Kit Tan & Yıldız were collected from Ankara. A. linifolium subsp. linifolium was collected from Antalya. Plant parts preserved in alcohol (70%). Microscopic sections were taken using a razor blade. Tissues were stained with Sartur's reagent and examined with a light microscope. Microphotographs were taken with a camera attached to a light microscope. Result and Discussion: The results showed that, the anatomical structures of the basal and cauline leaves of Asyneuma limonifolium subsp. limonifolium and A. limonifolium subsp. pestalozzae were similar. The leaves are bifacial and the palisade parenchyma 1-2 rows. In addition, the unicellular, non-glandular hairs and anomocytic stomata were observed on both epidermal surfaces. Besides, the leaf of A. linifolium subsp. linifolium is monofacial while that of A. linifolium subsp. nallihanicum is bifacial. Also, unicellular hairs were present on epidermal layer of A. linifolium subsp. linifolium while A. linifolium subsp. nallihanicum were not. The anomocytic stomata were determined on the upper and lower leaf surfaces of both subspecies.