Abstract

CHARACTERISATION OF Solanum diphyllum L. - A MEDICINALLY POTENTIAL SPECIES FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS IN KERALA USING SEM AND FTIR SPECTROSCOPY

V.S.Anilkumar, P.J. Aswathy, A V Sunila & K.Murugan*

ABSTRACT

Solanum diphyllum L., a medicinal herb, native of Mexico and Central America grows wildly as naturalized in many tropical and subtropical countries. Scientific data addressing its micromorphological features are unavailable. The plant showed promising cytotoxicity against colon and breast carcinoma cell lines, and could be considered as a potent source of anticancer molecules. The present research is aimed at investigating ultrastructural features of leaf, pollen and seed sporoderm using scanning electron microscopy and also functional groups by FT-IR spectroscopy. Leaf epidermis shows glandular and non-glandular hairs. Stomata are anisocytic stomata. Presence of a thick waxy layer over the leaf surface protects the leaves from desiccation. Pollen, trichomes and seed texture patterns were analysed and the data compiled for species discrimination. The morphology of the spermoderm as well as pollen were found to be useful as taxonomic tools for species level identification as well as comparison as these features are genetically determined The spermoderm shows a retticulate pattern with broad lumen and compact hilum. Pollen grains were trizonocolporate and prolate spheroidal in shape. FTIR spectral data reveals specific absorption peaks for the species. Peaks at 1041.56, 2360.87, 3118.9, 3736.12, 3790.12, 3803.63, 3824.84 and 3838.34 are characteristic to Solanum diphyllum.. FTIR spectral data was further analysed with a view to distinguish the functional chemical groups in the dried leaf tissue which in turn provides relevant leads for exploring the pharmacobotanical potentials of the species.

Keywords: Solanum, Scanning Electron Microscopy, FTIR spectrum.