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Advances in Environmental Biology, 5(2): 219-221, 2011
ISSN 1995-0756
This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Morphological and Anatomical Study of Two Medicinal Plants from Genus Mentha
Adel Nadjib Chaker, Habiba Boukhebti, Farida Sahli, Rima Haichour and Rachid Sahraoui
Laboratoire de Valorisation des Ressources Biologiques Naturelles (VRBN) Département
Biologie végétale et Ecologie , faculté des sciences UFA, Sétif, Algérie.
Adel Nadjib Chaker, Habiba Boukhebti, Farida Sahli, Rima Haichour and Rachid Sahraoui:
Morphological and Anatomical Study of Two Medicinal Plants from Genus Mentha
ABSTRACT
Labiatae family contains many genera and species, fast majority have economical values due to their
use as medicinal plants. Large number of its genera considered as a source of active substances especially
essential oils. Among these is genus Mentha from which we choose two species, Mentha spicata and Mentha
pulegium to carry out morphological and anatomical studies. Our study shows similarities and differences
between the two species. They are both herbal plants and have squared forms of crosssections of stems, with
differences in their inflorescences. However, M. pulegium has a particular feature which is the presence of
lacunar parenchyma tissues in all sections. Trichomes were present on the epidermis of stems and leaves and they
are unicellular or multicellular which form either glandular or protective cells. Their difference in number and
form is clear between the two species as well as their differences in different parts depending on the age of the
plant.
Key words: Labiatae family, morphological and anatomical studies, Mentha spicata, Mentha pulegium.
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Labiatae family contains around 250 genera and
7000 species and subspecies [2]. This family is
divided
into eight sub-families: Ajugoideae،
Chloranthoideae، Lamioideae، Pogostemonoideae،
Scutellarioideae، Teucrioideae، Viticoideae and
Nepetoideae to which Mentha genus belongs (Tucker
et al., 2006). Labiatae are well known for the essential
oils common to many members of the family. The
purpose, members of this family are used for is
different however, the main use can be medicinal,
ornamental and aromatic plants.
Two species (Mentha spicata and Mentha
pulegium) of genus mentha were chosen to carry out
morphological and anatomical studies. They are well
spread in Algeria mainly in moist to wet grounds and
most used as medicinal plants.
1- Plant Materials:
Aerial parts were collected during flowering
period at the end of June 2008 from Amoucha region
of Setif at an altitude of 800 m. Samples were
identified at plant biology laboratory, department of
biology university of Setif and air-dried at room
temperature in the shade.
2- Preparation of Sections for Anatomical Study:
Young fresh parts containing roots, stems and
leaves were chosen and sections were taken manually
using sambucus wood, sharp riser blade and double
colouration according to Locquin et Langeron [4]
method.
Corresponding Author:
Adel Nadjib Chaker, Laboratoire de Valorisation des Ressources Biologiques Naturelles (VRBN)
Département Biologie végétale et Ecologie , faculté des sciences UFA, Sétif, Algérie.
Email: [email protected]
Adv. Environ. Biol., 5(2): 219-221, 2011
Results:
1- Plant Morphology:
Mentha spicata: A perennial herb with erect
square stems and green opposite short stalked and
toothed margins leaves.
Flowers are borne in whorls in dense terminal
spike with a tubular calyx and pale violet bell-shaped
(conical) corolla. Length of the plant is between 15 to
50 cm tall and can reach 90 cm. Flowering period is
between June and September. This species is widely
cultivated as well as grown naturally.
Mentha Pulegium:
A perennial aromatic herb with a 4 angles stem
and small green long-stalked leaves. Flowers are borne
in whorls in dense spikes in the axils of the leaves
with tubular calyx which have five unequal sepals and
bell-shaped (conical) corolla. The plant is 10 to 45 cm
high and grows in moist damp streams. Flowering
period is between June and July.
Experiments carried out to cultivate these two
species using stems show a positive results with high
yield compared to those cultivated using seeds. In
addition results were much better when seeds or stems
are used then when plants are grown naturally.
Anatomical Study:
The anatomical studies that are carried out on
young fresh stems, roots, and leaves of both species
show similarities and differences between them. Pith,
xylem, phloem cortex and epidermis are found in
stem, in addition to angular collenchyma tissue in
cortex cells. However, collenchyma tissue is more or
less uniformly spread out in four corners of the stem
in M. spicata, unlike in M. pulegium where it is
spread out all over the stem. Cortex in M. pulegium is
wide and this is due to lacunous parenchyma tissue
being present. Both species have erect square stems.
Leaves were thicker in M. pulegium with less
deep venation and lacunous parenchyma surrounding
vascular tissues. Both species contain glandular and
covering trichomes.
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Observations show two types of secretive glands
with short stalks. The first with unicellular globule
head and the second is a multicellular oval head. The
presence of these types of glands are dense in M.
spicata. Covering trichomes are simple and more
dense in M. pulegium with no more then two cells, but
in M. spicata the number of cells forming these
trichomes is between 5 and 8 cells. Epidermis layer in
both species have stomata joined with subsidiary cells
to form stomatal complex.
Cross sections of roots in the two species are
similar in terms of number of tissue zones (epidermis,
cortex, vascular tissues and pith), number of vascular
tissues and general form.
The most important feature is lacunary
parenchyma which is present in M. pulegium
The presence of lacuna tissues in M pulegium is
due to the fact that plants leave in waterlogged soil or
partly submerged in water.
This is supported by Gorenflot [1] who mentioned
that aquatic (hydrophyte) plants have this
characteristic feature.
Boughdiri [8] mentioned the presence of external
secretory structures such as glandular hairs mainly in
labiatae family to which mentha belongs. In a study
carried out by Spencer et al [5] on Mentha citrata
found that these plants contain glandular trichomes
which have short stalks and unicellular globule heads.
Zizofic et al [7] emphasized that species of
labiatae family like Basilic, Rosmarin, Origan,
Lavende…….. have on the surface of their leaves two
types of glandular hairs.
Karray Bouraoui [3] studied the effect of salinity on
the production of essential oils in M. pulegium grown
under natural condition. She found that leaves and
stems contain simple covering hairs of 3 cells and two
types f glandular hairs, one is small of 2 cells which
make stalk and head and the other one is gland oval
of 10 cells covered with large cuticle. Also she
mentioned the number of glandular cells in glandular
hairs diver from one species to another according to
stages of growth.
The number in mature leaves was: in M. pulegium
is 10 cells, in M. spicata is 12 cells and in M. piperita
is 8 cells. In addition density of these glandular hairs
is different depending on the age of the plant.
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Adv. Environ. Biol., 5(2): 219-221, 2011
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