Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3835

Full Length Research Paper

Anatomical description, alkaloid content and quality control of the bark of Pau-pereira (Geissospermum laeve, Apocynaceae)

Márcia R. Almeida1, Alessandra E. S. Silva1, Andrezza O. Braga2, João Marcelo A. Braga3, Neusa Tamaio3* and Angelo C. Pinto1
1Laboratory of Natural Products and Chemical Transformations, Department of Organic Chemistry, UFR, Brazil. 2Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 3Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute, Brazil.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 13 February 2012
  •  Published: 16 March 2012

Abstract

Fifteen samples commercialized as Pau-pereira have been purchased from open-air fairs, herbal stores, newsstands, and Internet sites, and their anatomical features were compared with two reference samples of Geissospermum laeve, Apocynaceae. In addition, an analysis was carried out to track the presence of flavopereirine, an alkaloid described in G. laeve and other species of the genus, in both ethanolic extract and infusions of the reference samples, as well as the 15 samples acquired from commercial sources.

 

Key words: Bark anatomy, Brazilian Pharmacopeia, Geissospermum, medicinal plant, natural product.