Microscopic, Quantitative and Microchemical Characterization of the Leaves of Phyllanthus niruri L.

Abstract

Phyllanthus niruri L. is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, making accurate authentication and quality evaluation of its crude leaf material important for pharmacognostic assessment. This study characterized the leaves of P. niruri using epidermal microscopy, powder microscopy, quantitative microscopy, and microchemical analysis. Leaves collected in October 2024 from Area BZ, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, were authenticated at the Department of Botany, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a voucher number ’ABUH019007’. Ten fresh, healthy, mature leaves were examined for quantitative leaf characteristics, while additional leaf material was shade-dried, powdered, and subjected to microscopic and microchemical examination. Epidermal and powder preparations were examined using a light microscope, with representative photomicrographs obtained at ×100 and ×400 magnifications. The epidermal preparations showed irregular, thin-walled and wavy epidermal cells, numerous anisocytic stomata, numerous clusters of calcium oxalate crystals, and no observed trichomes. The available quantitative records indicated a stomatal number of 20/mm², stomatal index of 35.7%, and palisade ratio of 10.3. Quantitative measurements were based on ten sampled leaves, with three non-overlapping microscopic areas examined per leaf for stomatal counting. Powder microscopy revealed characteristic epidermal fragments, fibres, tracheids, calcium oxalate crystals, lignified tissues, starch-containing material, and tannin-containing tissues. Microchemical tests indicated the presence of cellulose, lignin, calcium oxalate, starch, and tannins in the examined leaf material. The findings provide a preliminary pharmacognostic profile of the examined P. niruri leaves and may support authentication and quality evaluation, although broader validation using adequately documented, geographically diverse samples and retained raw quantitative observations is required.