Anatomical and histochemical characterization of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) Leaflets:contributions to ethnopharmacobotanical knowledge: Inglês

Mr. Luiz Henrique de Oliveira Cruz
OrcID
Dr. Monique Silva Costa
OrcID
Dr. Maria Inês Teixeira
OrcID

    Mr. Luiz Henrique de Oliveira Cruz

    Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Mário Vianna Street, 523, Santa Rosa, Zip Code 24241-000, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.

    OrcID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5078-0648

    Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Biotechnology (2015-2021) from the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), Rio de Janeiro Campus. He was a scholarship holder for an Extension Project (PIBIEX) and a Technological Innovation Project (PIBITI) at IFRJ, studying the microscopic location of chemical compounds in the plant tissues of medicinal plants and Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANC). Master in Sciences Applied to Health Products (PPG-CAPS) (2022-2024), from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Fluminense Federal University (UFF). Currently, he is a doctoral student at PPG-CAPS, working in the research line of health product development. He studies potential applications of the species Pachira aquatica in the formulation of new foods, use of PANCs in the food sector and fermentation processes. He has experience in the areas of Ethnopharmacobotany and Food Biotechnology.

    Dr. Monique Silva Costa

    Institute of Application Fernando Rodrigues da Silveira - CAp UERJ, R. Barão de Itapagipe, 96, Rio Comprido, Zip Code 20261-005, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

    OrcID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3700-5713

    She holds a PhD (2015) and a master's degree (2011) in Plant Biology from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. She graduated in Biological Sciences from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (2009). She has experience in the area of ​​Botany, with an emphasis on studies of Plant Anatomy, growth dynamics and ethnopharmacobotany. She has experience in Basic Education, Vocational Education and Higher Education, with teaching experience at UERJ, IFRJ, Colégio Pedro II, CAp-UERJ and private educational institutions. She is currently a professor at the Colégio de Aplicação da UERJ and works on research projects at UERJ and IFRJ.

    Dr. Maria Inês Teixeira

    Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Campus. Rua Senador Furtado, no 121/125, Maracanã, 20270021, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

    OrcID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9122-1842

    He holds a degree in Animal Science from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (1992), a Teaching Training in Biological Sciences from the Salgado Oliveira University (2004), a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (1998) and a PhD in Food Science from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2004). He is currently studying Psychology at UERJ and teaches Biology for High School/Technical Education courses at the Rio de Janeiro Campus. He has supervised students in Scientific and Technological Initiation projects, in Extension projects and in Course Conclusion Works (TCC). He participated as a member and reviewer of the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of IFRJ from April 2016 to November 2019. He taught Environmental Sciences for the Chemistry and Biology Bachelor's degree course for Technical High School courses. She worked as a senior technician for the Mercury Analysis Laboratory of the Mineral Technology Center - CETEM. She worked in the areas of Food Science and Technology, Basic Microbiology, Food Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology. She worked with Distance Learning as a Tutor in the subjects Natural Sciences in Education I and II of the Pedagogy Course at Uerj with the CEDERJ Consortium and as a Teacher-Tutor in the area of ​​Environmental Management at Fundação Getúlio Vargas Online.

Keywords

Moringa oleifera
Bioactive compounds
Histochemistry
Pharmacobotany
Leaflet

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a tree species of Asian origin distributed in various countries around the world. It is considered a multipurpose plant, and its leaves are widely used by the population as food and herbal medicine. However, there are still gaps in the information regarding the phytochemical compounds of the species' leaves. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform the anatomical and histochemical characterization of M. oleifera leaflets. For this analysis, the leaflets were processed, and histochemical tests were conducted according to the usual methodology in Plant Anatomy. Moringa leaflets have anomocytic and actinocytic stomata with an amphistomatic organization, collateral vascular bundles, asymmetric mesophyll, and the presence of idioblasts in the epidermis and mesophyll. The presence and histolocalization of calcium oxalate druses, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, lipids, proteins, pectins, mucilages, and alkaloids, which are substances that may confer biological activities to the species, were evidenced. These results contribute to expanding the anatomical knowledge of the species and enable the identification of compounds for future bioprospecting studies.

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Author(s)

  • Mr. Luiz Henrique de Oliveira Cruz
    Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Mário Vianna Street, 523, Santa Rosa, Zip Code 24241-000, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5078-0648
  • Dr. Monique Silva Costa
    Institute of Application Fernando Rodrigues da Silveira - CAp UERJ, R. Barão de Itapagipe, 96, Rio Comprido, Zip Code 20261-005, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3700-5713
  • Dr. Maria Inês Teixeira
    Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Campus. Rua Senador Furtado, no 121/125, Maracanã, 20270021, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9122-1842

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Anatomical and histochemical characterization of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) Leaflets:contributions to ethnopharmacobotanical knowledge: Inglês. Rev Fitos [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 7 [cited 2026 Jan. 11];19:e1708. Available from: https://revistafitos.far.fiocruz.br/index.php/revista-fitos/article/view/1708
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