[en] The purpose of this study consisted in the identification of the macroscopic and microscopic characters of the vegetative
and reproductive organs of Bryonia alba L., by the analysis of vegetal material, both integral and as powder. Optical microscopy
was used to reveal the anatomical structure of the vegetative (root, stem, tendrils, leaves) and reproductive (ovary, male flower
petals) organs. Histo-anatomical details were highlighted by coloration with an original combination of reagents for the double
coloration of cellulose and lignin. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and stereomicroscopy led to the elucidation of the
structure of tector and secretory trichomes on the inferior epidermis of the leaf. Micrographic analysis of the powder obtained
from aerial parts revealed segments of each organ (e.g. stomata, trichomes) and confirmed furthermore the results obtained by
the histo-anatomical studies. Sections achieved through vegetative organs reveal typical anatomical structures: a transition to
the secondary structure for the root, a typical dicotyledons’ structure with bicollateral vascular bundles for the stem, a bifacial
structure of the leaf and stem-like structures for the tendrils and petioles, which prove they are metamorphosis of the stem.
Anatomical structure of reproductive organs was performed hereby for the first time and revealed a typical anatomical
structure for the 3-lodged ovary and a leaf-like structure of the male flower petal. Some of the results obtained confirm existing
data from the scientific literature and additional information have been provided, outlining features that were not previously
reported, such as SEM analysis of the leaf trichomes and histo-anatomical structure of the reproductive organs.
Ali MA, Al-Hemaid FMA (2011). Taxonomic significance of trichomes micromorphology in cucurbits. Saudi J Biol Sci 18:87-92.
Baek NI, Dong WL, YOU HL, Shin II K, Goorgen VA (1995). Cytotoxic constituents from the roots of Bryonia alba L. Natural Product Sciences 1(1):43-49.
Burrows GE, Shaik RS (2014). Comparative developmental anatomy of the taproot of the cucurbitaceous vines Citrullus colocynthis (perennial), Citrullus lanatus (annual) and Cucumis myriocarpus (annual). Aust J Bot 62:537-545.
Christodoulakis NS, Kollia K, Fasseas C (2011). Leaf structure and histochemistry of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A.Rich. (squirting cucumber). Flora 206:191-197.
Crisan G, Stefanescu C, Ielciu I, Mocan A (2013). Pharmaceutical botany: micro- and macroscopic identification of vegetal species. UMF "Iuliu HaOieganu" Press, Cluj-Napoca, pp 5-19.
Demarque D, Jouanny J, Poitevin B, Saint Jean Y (2007). Pharmacologie et matière médicale homeopathique. 3ième edition, France, CEDH Press, pp163-167.
European Pharmacopoeia, 8th edition (2014). Methods of analysis- Microscopic examination of herbal drugs.
Kocyan A, Zhang LB, Schaefer H, Renner SS (2007). A multi-locus chloroplast phylogeny for the Cucurbitaceae and its implications for character evolution and classification. Mol Phylogenet Evol 44:553- 577.
Kolb D, Müller M (2004). Light, conventional and environmental scanning electron microscopy of the trichomes of Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo var. styriaca and histochemistry of glandular secretory products. Ann Bot-London 94:515-526.
Konopa J, Zielinski J, Matuszkiewicz A (1974a). Cucurbitacins, cytotoxic and antitumor substances from Bryonia alba L. I: Isolation and identification. Arzneimittel-forsch 24:1554-1557.
Konopa J, Matuszkiewicz A, Hrabowska M, Onoszka K (1974b). Cucurbitacines, cytotoxic and antitumor substances from Bryonia alba L. Part II: Biological studies. Arzneimittel-forsch 24:1741-1743.
Manvi, Ganesh PG (2011). Evaluation of Pharmacognostical parameters and Hepatoprotective activity in Bryonia alba Linn. J Chem Pharm Res 3(6):99-109.
Nagy B, Mânzatu C, Maicaneanu A, Indolean C, Barbu-Tudoran L, Majdik C (2014). Linear and nonlinear regression analysis for heavy metals removal using Agaricus bisporus macrofungus. Arabian Journal of Chemistry Open Acces doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2014.03.004
Park CS, Lim H, Han KJ, Baek SH, Sohn HO, Lee DW, Kim YG, Yun HY, Baek KJ, Kwon NS (2004). Inhibition of nitric oxide generation by 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in mouse peritoneal macrophages. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 309(2):705-710.
Schaefer H, Renner SS (2011). Phylogenetic relationships in the order Cucurbitales and a new classification of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Taxon 60(1):122-138.
Singh R, Rajasree PH, Sankar C (2012). Screening for anti-diabetic activity of the ethanolic extract of Bryonia alba roots. International Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Science 2(3):210-215.
Toma C, Rugina R (1998). Medicinal plants anatomy. Ed Academiei Române, Bucuresti, pp126-128 (in Romanian).
Volz SM, Renner SS (2008). Hybridization, polyploidy and evolutionary transitions between monoecy and dioecy in Bryonia (Cucurbitaceae). Am J Bot 95(10):1297-1306.
Volz SM, Renner SS (2009). Phylogeography of the ancient Eurasian medicinal plant genus Bryonia (Cucurbitaceae) inferred from nuclear and chloroplast sequences. Taxon 58(2):550-560.
