ESTUDO FARMACOBOTÂNICO DE FOLHAS DE CAPIM-LIMÃO: Cympobogon citratus (DC.) STAPF, POACEAE

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Poaceae e uma erva aromatica perene, conhecida popularmente como capim-limao. As folhas frescas ou dessecadas e o oleo extraido das mesmas sao amplamente empregados na medicina tradicional e se lhes atribuem atividades sedativa, estomaquica, analgesica, antiespasmodica e antimicrobiana. Com o objetivo de complementar informacoes farmacognosticas, realizou-se estudo morfologico foliar externo (macroscopico) e anatomico (microscopico) da planta medicinal. Observou-se que as folhas apresentam formato linear-lanceolado, sao planas, eretas e alternas, com bainha larga e nervacao paralela. A epiderme e uniestratificada e constituida por celulas parenquimaticas e lignificadas; em vista frontal, apresentam formato retangular e paredes anticlinais levemente onduladas; ao longo da lâmina foliar sao encontrados tricomas tectores unicelulares e bicelulares, e estomatos em formato de halteres, acompanhados de duas celulas subsidiarias. Celulas buliformes, clorenquima regular e feixes vasculares colaterais com estrutura Kranz, envoltos por bainha simples ou dupla estao presentes. Morpho-anatomical study of lemongrass leaVES: Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) STAPF, POACEAE Abstract This species is an aromatic perennial herb, commonly known as lemongrass. Their fresh or dried leaves and essential oil are largely employed in the traditional medicine as sedative, stomachic, analgesic, antispasmodic and antimicrobial. Aiming to contribute to pharmacognostical studies, morphological (macroscopic) and anatomical (microscopic) analysis were carried out. It was observed that the leaves have got linear-lanceolate shape; they are plain, erect and alternate, with a large sheathing base and parallel venation. The epidermis is composed by one layer of parenchymatic and sclerenchymatic cells, which shows elongated shape and slightly waved anticlinal walls; also present are uni- and bicellular non-glandular trichomes, and stomata surrounded by two subsidiary cells. Bulliform cells, homogeneous chlorenchyma and collateral vascular bundles, showing a wreath (Kranz structure) encircled by simple or double bundle sheath are described.