Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of <i>Sida acuta </i>Burm.F. (Malvaceae)

Abstract

Sida acuta Burm F. (Malvaceae) is an erect, branched small perennial herb or small shrub growing abundantly in Nigeria. In the Southern part of Nigeria, the plant is used to hasten delivery. In Nicaragua, the decoction of the entire plant is taken orally for asthma, fever, aches and pains, ulcers and for venereal diseases. The Pharmacognostic profiles such as phytochemical, macroscopical, microscopical, chemomicroscopical, and quantitative evaluations were carried out on the powdered leaves and anatomical sections of the fresh plant. The phytochemical analysis of Sida acuta powdered leaves revealed the presence of cardiac and saponin glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids. The leaves are simple and alternate in arrangement, green in colour, and pubescent. Each leaf is shortly petiolate
possessing a lanceolate lamina with a serrated margin and an acute apex. The powdered
drug was subjected to microscopical examination. The stomata are anisocytic, epidermal
cells are wavy, numerous unicellular non-glandular trichomes are present, and there are
prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate, fragments of lignified fibres and simple starch grains.
Chemomicroscopical tests on the powder showed the presence of lignin, starch, calcium
oxalate and mucilage. This investigation also reports the palisade ratio (10.00 -11.80 -15.0
+ 0.49), the stomata number ( 9.00-17.20-31.00 + 2.14) for the lower epidermis and 3.00-
7.10-12.00 + 0.94) for the upper epidermis, the stomata index (18.37-31.00-32.00 + 2.88
for the lower epidermis and 8.00-15.80-23.01 + 1.90 for the upper epidermis), the vein islet
number (36.00-38.10-42.00 + 1.10 ), the vein termination number (14.00-19.10-24.00 +
1.03 ), the total ash values (8.63 + 0.07 % w/w ), the acid insoluble ash values (0.65 + 0.06
% w/w ),the moisture content (9.47 + 0.18 % w/w),the water soluble extractive values
(2.93 + 0.46 % w/w) and the alcohol soluble extractive value (1.35 + 0.08 % w/w ) for the
leaves of Sida acuta. This study thus provides a monograph on the plant for its proper
identification and detection of adulteration /substitution.

Keywords: Sida acuta leaves, Pharmacognostic profile.

JOPAT Vol. 12 2007: pp. 56-65