Stem histochemistry analysis of three medicinal species from Iraq

Abstract

The chemical constituents act as protection and defense the plant body, but a lot of these compounds are extracted and used for medical purposes, active chemical compounds are used for treatment diseases, so it necessary to study the chemical contents in the secretory structure of the plants. The objective of the study was to determine the secretory structures and its chemicals in the stem of Anethum graveolens L., Catharanthus roseus (L) G.Don and Ruta graveolens L. The samples were collected from different region in Baghdad before the flowering period and used fresh for anatomical and histochemical analysis, test conducted for detection total lipids, trepenes, acidic and neutral Lipids, phenolic compounds, lignin, tannins, pectin, starch, alkaloids and proteins. The secretory structures found mainly as idioblast among the species and especially as secretory canals in Anethum graveolens, lactiferous canals in Catharanthus  roseus and as secretory cavities in Ruta  graveolens.