Naidoo, D., Naidoo, Y., Dewir, Y., Alshahrani, T., Hassan, W., Mendler-Drienyovszki, N. (2024). Foliar Micromorphology and Histo-phytochemistry of Cucumber Trees (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth). Egyptian Journal of Botany, 64(2), 567-579. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2024.243874.2540
Danesha Naidoo; Yougasphree Naidoo; Yaser H. Dewir; Thobayet Alshahrani; Wael M. Hassan; Nóra Mendler-Drienyovszki. "Foliar Micromorphology and Histo-phytochemistry of Cucumber Trees (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth)". Egyptian Journal of Botany, 64, 2, 2024, 567-579. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2024.243874.2540
Naidoo, D., Naidoo, Y., Dewir, Y., Alshahrani, T., Hassan, W., Mendler-Drienyovszki, N. (2024). 'Foliar Micromorphology and Histo-phytochemistry of Cucumber Trees (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth)', Egyptian Journal of Botany, 64(2), pp. 567-579. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2024.243874.2540
Naidoo, D., Naidoo, Y., Dewir, Y., Alshahrani, T., Hassan, W., Mendler-Drienyovszki, N. Foliar Micromorphology and Histo-phytochemistry of Cucumber Trees (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth). Egyptian Journal of Botany, 2024; 64(2): 567-579. doi: 10.21608/ejbo.2024.243874.2540
Foliar Micromorphology and Histo-phytochemistry of Cucumber Trees (Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth)
1School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
2Plant Production Department, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
3Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt
4Research Institute of Nyíregyháza, Institutes for Agricultural Research and Educational Farm (IAREF), University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 12, 4400 Nyíregyháza, Hungary
Abstract
Kigelia africana belongs to the family Bignoniaceae, and this species has been exploited for many years for its medicinal properties caused by the secondary metabolites found in its fruit. Thus, this study aimed to determine the foliar micromorphology and histo-phytochemistry of K. africana leaf extracts using microscopy, histochemistry, and phytochemical screening. Microscopy revealed glandular peltate trichomes on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of young and mature leaflets. Histochemical analysis showed that the peltate trichomes secreted lipids and alkaloids, and histo-phytochemical analysis indicated that the leaf extracts contained various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and phenols. The presence of glandular trichomes is a characteristic feature of species belonging to the family Bignoniaceae, and the phytochemicals present in the leaf extracts were similar to those found in fruit extracts. This study revealed the presence of peltate trichomes on the surfaces of young and mature leaflets, and histo-phytochemistry showed that the leaves contained various classes of phytochemicalcompounds. However, further work must be conducted to investigate the fine ultrastructure of the leaves and peltate trichomes as well as the biological activity of various phytochemicals.