Leaf anatomy and micromorphology of potential medicinal weed ruellia repens L. (Acanthaceae) from Tasik Chini, Pahang

• Main Authors: Zakaria, Siti Maisarah, Che Amri, Che Nurul Aini, Talip, Noraini, Ahmad Juhari, Amirul Aiman, Abdul Rahman, Mohd Ruzi, Shahari, Rozilawati
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Malaysian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (MSBMB) 2021
• Subjects: QK Botany
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/96205/7/96205_LEAF%20ANATOMY%20AND%20MICROMORPHOLOGY.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/96205/13/96205_Leaf%20anatomy%20and%20micromorphology_SCOPUS.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/96205/; https://1f169227-0328-4af2-99bc-24934f131be8.filesusr.com/ugd/66925b_939e3bf063f541c6ae7e6778ef55b8a9.pdf

Weeds are commonly known as unwanted plants that grow in wild and human�controlled areas such as farms, gardens, and fields. However, these undesirable plants might benefit humans, especially as a traditional medicine in some rural areas. Ruellia repens belongs to the family Acanthaceae, one of the common weeds in Peninsular Malaysia. This species is believed to become a potential medicinal weed due to its several potent chemical constituents that might be useful in the pharmaceutical industry. But, a lack of research attempts is reported in the taxonomic study of this species. By keeping this point, the present study was carried out to provide the leaf anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of R. repens obtained from Tasik Chini, Pahang. This detailed information will be helpful for the botanist and pharmacologist to avoid misidentification of the species. Several methods were involved such as cross-sectioning on petiole, midrib, lamina and marginal parts, leaf epidermal peeling, leaf clearing, observation under a light microscope and observation under a scanning electron microscope. Results revealed some important leaf anatomical and micromorphological structures such as petiole, midrib and marginal outlines, presence and type of cystoliths, presence and type of trichomes, type of stomata, and presence and types of waxes. The leaf anatomical and micromorphological structures in R. repens are taxonomic significance and might be used as additional data to identify and classify the species. Also, the present study might be a good starting point that leads to extensive future works on the medicinal weeds, especially from Tasik Chini, Pahang.