Comparative chemotaxonomic studies on sroti (Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler)) Mull and velvet bush willow (Mallotus alternifolius) Merr

Abstract

Comparative morphological, anatomical and phytochemical studies on two species of Euphorbiaceae (M. oppositifolius and M. alternifolius) found in Niger Delta were studied.. The morphological study was done using direct observation, characteristics studied were the leaf length, width, length of petiole and internode; M. oppositifolius and M. alternifolius are unisexual and are mesophytes. The leaves are simple, branching is erect and crown type. Phyllotaxy is opposite in M. oppositifolius and alternate in M. alternifolius. In M. oppositifolius, the leaf is 2 ± 2.3 long and 8.1 ± 2.2cm wide; petiole is 7.9 ± 2.4cm long, internode 3.7 ± 1.1cm long whereas in M. alternifolius, the leaf is 6. 1 ± 0.7cm long and 7.8 ± 1.8cm wide; petiole is 2.0 ±0.6 long, internode 7.8 ± 1.8cm long. They are perennial shrubs and both species have reticulate venation. The anatomy was done using free hand sectioning, the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the leaf showed anomocytic type of stomatal arrangement, revealed the presence of both living cells (collenchymatous and parenchymatous cells with vascular bundles). Phytochemical screening was carried out using Trease and Evans method. The result of the phytochemical studies revealed the presence of bioactive constituents tannin, flavonoids, phlobatannins, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides in the two species while alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides and saponins were found to be absent in both species. M. alternifolius contains higher crude percentage of the bioactive compounds than M. oppositifolius.

Keywords: Morphological, Anatomical, Phytochemical, Mallotus Spp.