Macro and microscopic characters of Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.) A. Rich leaf

Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.) A. Rich. (syn. Maerua arenaria, Niebhuria arenaria), commnoly known as “Bhoochakra Gadda.” in Telugu, ‘Hemkand’ in Hindi and ‘Bhumichakkarai’ in Tamil, belongs to the family Capparaceae. It is a low woody bushy under-shrub up to 4m long, branches glabrous, found in Indian subcontinent and Srilanka [1]. The leaves are simple, ovate, elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, 3-4.5×2.3cm, scabrous, margin entire, base and apex obtuse, apex mucronate; petiole to 1 cm long. Racemes corymbose, 5-10cm; peduncle to 3cm; pedicel to 2 cm.Flowers 1.5cm across, greenishyellow in corymbs, rarely flowers solitary, axillary, mildly fragrant; bracts small, ovate; sepals 4, petaloid, united near base or up to onethird from base, calyxtube 3-8 mm long, lined by a tubular truncate disc, lobes ellipticoblong; petals 4, on cup-shaped disc, ovate-lanceolate to obovate; stamens 20-26; filaments subulate, to 2cm, greenish or white, brownish or purple on drying ;anthers oblong, 4 mm. Androphore equal to receptacle. Gynophores 1.5-2.5 cm long; ovary ovoid, 7mm cylindrical, stigma sessile. Berry moniliform, fleshy, to 12×2cm, elongate, twisted and deeply constricted between the seeds; seeds globose , 7×5mm, minutely echinate-tuberculate. Flower & Fruit: January to June [2-5]. (Figure 1a, b&c). The roots are used tonic and stimulant [6]. Micropropagation a liana of arid areas [7]. Pharmacognostical studies on the roots [8]. Evaluation of antipyretic activity of root extracts[9] Effect on alloxan induced diabetes in rats [10], a lupine triterpenoid [11], Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanol and Aqueous Extract [12], In vitro antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity [13], The roots are used to energy stimulant [14], The root bulb are given to cure diabetes [15], The leaves and bark anti emetic[16],The leaves are used rheumatism [17], The roots are used as aphrodisiac [18]. The tubers are used in fertility [19], Extraction, isolation and characterization [20], anti malaria, Insecticidal and Repellent Properties [21]. The root s are used Evil eye/luck [22], the roots are used to antiperiodic, diuretic, purgative, dropsy, urinary disorders, febrifuge, stomachic and diabetes [23], nithya pooja kona sacred groove [24]. Micro propagation [25], whole plant is fed as fodder to increase lactation [26]. In the present investigation the leaves are used to ethno medicinally, curing the fever.


INTRODUCTION
identified by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) Deccan regional centre Hyderabad and deposited in Herbarium, Botany Department, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangna (HY).The leaves were boiled, fixed in F:A:A. (Formaldehyde : Acetic acid : Alcohol), dehydrated through xylene -alcohol series and embedded in paraffin wax. The sections were cut at 10 -12 μm on Optica 1090A rotary microtome, stained with Crystal violet and basicfuchsin combination and mounted in canadabalsam method by Johansen [27]. Epidermal peels were obtained by gently scraping and peeling by razor blade, double treatments were done following the methods of Leelavathi, and Ramayya [28]. Peels were stained with saffranine and mounted in glycerin. The powder microscopy characters were studied by boiling the drug in distilled water, stained in saffranine and mounting with glycerine. The photomicrography was done on Olympus BX53 research trinocular microscope, attached with digital Sony camera.

Microscopic Characters
In leaf surface view, adaxial epidermal cells mostly 5-7 sided, few up to 8 sided, polygonal anisodiametric, few isodiametric, sides thick, straight to curved, surface striated contents dense. Distribution of epidermal cells common, all over, except on veins, irregularly arranged variously oriented. Costal cells 5-7 sided, mostly polygonal to linear, anisodiametric, sides straight to curved, surface striated, contents dense in few. Distributed on primary and secondary veins, irregularly arranged, parallelly oriented. Stomata are present in both sides which are anomocytic, few tetracytic. Subsidiaries 4, indistinct, monocyclic, mostly of f-type, few a-type; guard cells reniform, densely cytoplasmic. Except subsidiaries mostly of c-type, few a-type in abaxiaaly Distribution of subsidiaries common, all over, except on veins, irregularly arranged, variously oriented. Epidermal cell frequency 2056 per sq.mm 2 , stomatal frequency 50 per sq.mm 2 , and stomatal index 2.51.

Leaf Lamina Abaxial
The abaxial surface studies are similar to the adaxial surface studies, the stomatal complex studies similar to adaxial but except on subsidiaries mostly of c-type, few a-type. The abaxial surface epidermal cell frequency 1762 per sq.mm. stomatal frequency 640 per sq.mm., and stomatal index 27.1 (Figure 2a-f). Mesophyll dorsiventral, heterogenous differentiated into palisade and spongy tissues. Palisade 1-2 layered, throughout, extending into midvien and secondary veins cells cylindrical, columnar, with large intercellular spaces 27-55(41) μm long and 8-22 (15) μm wide, walls thick and interspersed with sphaerocrystals in few; contents dense with chloroplasts. Spongy tissue 3-5 celled, cells mostly oval to oblong, few dumbbell shaped 14-30(22) μm in diameter, loosely arranged with large intercellular spaces, interrupted by sphaerocrystalliferous idioblasts, contents dense with chloroplasts ( Figure 3b).
Vascular tissue consists of a single circular vascular bundle present at the centre. Vascular bundle is enclosed by endodermis, 322-506(430) μm in diameter, xylem consisting of tracheary elements 8-18 (25) μm in diameter; arranged in radial rows, interrupted by xylem parenchyma, phloem is scanty, surrounding the xylem. Phloem consists phloem parenchyma, sieve tube and sieve cells accompanied with companion cells. A small amount of pith present at the centre of vascular bundle, in longitudinal section tracheary elements show annular and helical thickenings. (Figure 3c).

DISCUSSION
There were no reports to regards Maerua oblongifolia leaves, this was the first report with regard to macro and microscopic characters of leaf of maerua oblongifolia. Locally the plant is popular known as "Bhoochakara Gadda". A combination of characters such as epidermal cell size, their distribution, stomatal index, presence or absence of hairs, their types, palisade ratio, venation pattern, vein-islet number, vein let termination number are found to be very significant micro-morphological characters in the identification of crude drugs [29,30]. Surface view the epidermal cells are mostly 5-7 sided, few up to 8 sided, polygonal anisodiametric, few isodiametric, sides thick, straight to curved, surface striated, contents dense either surfaces. The epidermal cells on the Adaxial are more frequent on adaxial being 2056 per sq.mm 2 , compared to the abaxial surface with 1762 per sq.mm 2 . The costal cells are 5-7 sided, mostly polygonal to linear, anisodiametric, sides straight to curved, surface striated, contents dense in few. Metcalfe and chalk [31] reported that the very few characters are constant throughout the family. The stomata are amphistomatic with anomocytic stomata. The present study confirms the above observation but reports the occurrence of few tetracytic stomata on both sides which is a new information with subsidiaries indistinct of monocyclic, mostly of f-type, few a-type; guard cells reniform, except subsidiaries while mostly of c-type, few a-type on abaxial side. In leaf transection the midvein is ribbed on either sides at midvein; secondary veins also ribbed. Lamina is dorsiventral Palisade 1-2 layered, throughout, extending into midvien and secondary veins. Spongy tissue 3-5 celled, cells mostly oval to oblong, few dumbbell shaped, interrupted by sphaerocrystalliferous idioblasts presently confirmed. Ground tissue of midvein differentiated into palisade, collenchyma and parenchyma. Collenchyma 3-4 layered on adaxial side, 1-layered on abaxial side confirmed. Palisade 1-2 layered beneath the collenchyma. Parenchyma 3-4 layered an adaxial and 3-6 layered on abaxial presently observed. Metcalfe and chalk [31] reported some capparis genus midrib usually with vascular bundles arranged in a straight band or in an arc with the convex surface towards the lower side. Presently vascular tissue of midvien consists of one large oval shaped vascular bundles arranged are at the centre, vascular bundle is conjoint, collateral, endarch. In T.S. of petiole, circular adaxially are small, grooved at centre. Ground tissue consisting of collenchyma and parenchyma tissues. Collenchyma 2-3 layered, parenchyma abundant, occupied rest of the ground tissue presently observed. Vascular tissue consists of a single circular vascular bundle present at the centre.

CONCLUSION
The macro and microscopic features and organoleptic characters along with the anatomical studies are diagnostic and establish in the standards for the plant leaf drug.