Comparative Anatomy And Histochemistry Of Secretory Structures In Lysimachia Christinae,Lysimachia Congestiflora And Lysimachia Hemsleyana

Lysimachia christinae Hance, which belongs to Subgen.Lysimachia is a perennial herbal plant, it is a grass unique to China distributing the areas of southwest and Yangtze River, and it traditionally used in folk medicine as a therapeutic plant.Firstly, the distribution, morphorlogy and structure, chemical component, pharmacology, medical exploitation and comprehensive use of Lysimachia were reviewed. Secondly, comparison Lysimachia christinae Hance and its two confusions (Lysimachia congestiflora Hemsl. and Lysimachia hemsleyana Maxim.) were retrospected from the same points above. Thirdly, the health function and use of flavones were introduced. The source and manufacturing technology of flavones were summarized and the market prospects in health food containing flavones were envisaged.The species is characterized by the presence of different types of secretory structure: secretory canals and glandular trichomes. The aim of this work was to charactrize the secretory canals and glandular trichomes in both the floral and vegetative parts, from morphological, anatomical and histochemical points of view. The secretory canals of Lysimachia christinae consist of a sub-epidermal canal delimited by one layers of cells.light and scanning electron microscope examination of fixed plant material revealed that secretory canals show a typical schizogenous development and develop from epidermal cells (meristemoids). The epidermal initial cell undergoes a periclinal division to give rise to two cells. And the two cells in turn undergo anticlinal divisions and form four cells. Each of these cells was usually smaller than any of its neighbours and all had a dense cytoplasm. At the next stage, the pectinic layer of the cell wall, which were in the center of the structure, had began to lyse and the lumen of the canal occurred consequently. As the structure grew, the lumen of the canal became evident gradually. During canal enlargement, these cells proliferated and one layer of cells delimited the internal canal. At maturity, the canal consisted of a narrow lumensurrounded by one layer of secretory cells, which became elongate and degenerate.The type Atrichomes, as other trichomes, originate from a single protodermal cell that suffers a periclinal division. The lower cell corresponds to the trichome basal cell. The upper daughter cell of this two celled primordium divides asymmetrically to give rise to the stalk cell and the trichome head. Afterward, the trichome head enlarges to form a globose cell and its subpectic layer-cuticle space increased a storage pool which engorged with the material produced by the secretory cell. When touched, the cuticle ruptures, releasing the secretory product over the organ surface.As the early stages of ontogenesis of type B and type C trichomes were very difficult to observe because of the presence of so few cells in these structures, only the mature structures are described here.The secretory structures of Lysimachia congestiflora and Lysimachia hemsleyana also have two types: secretory cavities and type A of glandular trichomes. Both of secretory cavities consist of a sub-epidermal cavity delimited by one layers of cells. They originated from the ground meristem and developed schizogenously too. The mature secretory cavities of Lysimachia congestiflora are golden or yellow with some black dots and lines, while the mature ones of Lysimachia hemsleyana are always jet black.The histochemical tests of Lysimachia christinae show that the secretory canals stained positively for the presence of tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds. However, there were differences in the composition of the secretion depending on the organ involved. The secretory canals in leaves stained positively for the presence of pectic-like substances, whereas the secretory canals in calyx stained positively for the presence of lipids. Nile Blue stained the secretory canals positively in calyx, but negatively for Sudan Black B. The capitate trichomes stained positively for the presence of lipids, essential oils, pectic-like substances, flavones. But, there were differences in the accumulated position of the same secretions, such as lipids. Unlike type A and type B, type C trichomes gave positive reactions for tannins. The test forthe genetic dye gave a positive response in three types of the trichomes.The kinds of organs' samples were used as materials for extracting the flavone content and measured by using spectrometry. Results indicated that isolating fat, the concentration of solvent, temperature of extracting had different effects on the measured results of the content of flavone, but environment the developer had little the effect. Extracting the samples after fat isolated, under 70°C condition and treated with 30% ethanol and added some developer ( 0.7mlNaNO2N 0.7mlAl(NO3>3N 5 mlNaOH) could receive the best measurement of the content of flavone.The content of flavone of the stem, leaf, root and flower of Lysimachia Christina. were determined by spectrophotometric method under 70°C condition and treated with 30% ethanol. In a whole growth season, the seasonal change of flavonoid in different organs was different, and the most conspicuous change was in the mature leaf. The content of flavonoid in mature leaf was the highest in May and August, and the lowest in November;the content of flavonoid in young leaf was the highest in June;the content of flavonoid in stem was the highest in September and October;the content of flavonoid in flower was the highest in all apparatus, and gradually increased in the growth season. In conclusion, the content of flavone of Lysimachia christinae in picking season (in June and September) is not the highest, while the content in May and July is conspicuous more higher. So, from the point of view, it may be a better choice to pick Lysimachia christinae in May and July.