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133
Istanbul J Pharm 51 (1): 133-136
DOI: 10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2020.0020
Original Article
The anatomical properties of endemic Hypericum
kotschyanum Boiss.
Onur Altınbaşak , Gülay Ecevt Genç , Şükran Kültür
Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Botany, Istanbul, Turkey
ORCID IDs of the authors: O.A. 0000-0002-7167-7663; G.E.G. 0000-0002-1441-7427; Ş.K. 0000-0001-9413-5210
Cite this article as : Altinbasak, O., Ecevit Genc, G., & Kultur, S. (2021). The anatomical properties of endemic Hyper icum kotschya-
num Boiss. İstanbul Journal of Pharmacy, 51(1), 133-136.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: This study reveals the anatomical features of Hypericum kotschyanum Boiss. species and compares
them with previous studies. The anatomical characteristics of stem, leaf, and root were studied using a light microscope. In
addition, anatomical structures were measured.
Methods: The studied material was collected from Arslanköy, Mersin. The collected specimens were identified. Dried speci-
mens were kept in Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy Herbarium (ISTE) and filed using the ISTE number system (ISTE
98173). Also, some plant materials were kept in 70% ethanol for anatomical examination. All sections from plant s were cut by
hand using a blade. Samples were examined in SART UR reagent. Photographs were taken using a light microscope.
Results: When we examined the cells around the stomata in the light of the neighboring cells, we observed that the stomata
is an anomocytic type in leaf super ficial section. The number of cells that radially surround the bottom of the tr ichomes on the
leaf surface is 9. This can be specified as a characteristic feature of this type. In the stem cross-section of H. kotschyanum
species, secretory canals were observed. In H. kotschyanum stem cross-section, irregular ridges were present and wing
structure was not observed. The existence of secretor y canals was observed in H. kotschyanum root cross-section.
Conclusion: We examined Hypericum kotschyanum anatomically for the first time. Therefore, this study is important in pro-
viding information that will be the source of other studies on this plant.
Keywords: Hypericum kotschyanum, plant anatomy, Turkey
Address for Correspondence:
Onur ALTINBAŞAK, e-mail: oaltinbasak@gmail.com
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons At tribution 4.0 International License.
Submitted: 22.06.2020
Revision Requested: 30.07.2020
Last Revision Received: 03.09.2020
Accepted: 14.10.2020
INTRODUCTION
Hypericum L. genus is spreading all over the world and includes 460 species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants (Perrone et
al., 2013b). Approximately 100 species grow naturally in Turkey, of which 46 are endemic (Davis et al., 1967; Özhatay et al., 2009;
Özhatay et al., 2011; Özhatay et al., 2015; Güner et al., 2000; Güner, 2012).
The secretory structures of the genus Hypericum are highly specialized for the synthesis and deposition of biologically active com-
pounds and it has great potential. These secretory structures are found in vegetative and generative organs. Their phytochemical
diversity has been revealed by taxonomic and anatomical studies (Perrone et al., 2013a; Ciccarelli et al., 2001; Nahrstedt, 1997).
Other studies worldwide have also concentrated on Hypericum perforatum L which has traditionally been used to heal wounds,
burns, and swellings, and also used as an anti-inflammatory. In addition , it has been used internally for stomach diseases, ulcers,
enteritis, and diabetes (Özkan & Mat, 2013). Moench’s study on extracts of Hypericum species such as H. perforatum, H. calycinum
L., and H. confertum Moench demonstrates that especially H. calycinum extracts are potential agents to use in cosmeceuticals for
anti-aging and skin-whitening purposes (Ersoy et al., 2019). Experimental studies on the inhibition of the inflammatory pathway
134
Istanbul J Pharm 51 (1): 133-136
and recovery of DNA damage for H. olympicum L. species have
also been carried out. (Kurt-Celep et al., 2020).
There are some features which are characteristic of the anato-
my of Hypericum. According to Metcalfe et al. (1957) pith rays
are uniseriate, and the xylem and phloem are somewhat nar-
rower. Pith development is greater in herbaceous Hypericum.
Also, stomata of Hypericum species are generally surrounded
by three or more cells.
Another characteristic feature of the anatomy of Hypericum is
secretory canals’ distribution. Secretory canals are always pres-
ent in the secondary phloem, however sometimes there are
also found in the pith, pericycle, and outer part of the primary
cortex. In the root, secretory canals are present in the pericycle
and secondary phloem of Hypericum (Metcalfe et al., 1957).
H. kotschyanum is an endemic species that was recorded as
growing naturally only in Konya and Niğde provinces (Davis et
al., 1967). The stem is 10-30 cm long, branched from the base,
and has woolly hairs. Leaves are on the main stem, 5-15 mm,
hairy. Inflorescence shapes are pyramidal or cylindric. There are
glands like black dots on the petals. They usually grow on cal-
careous and rocky lands at an altitude of 1800-2000 m (Duman
& Sevimli, 2008).
H. kotschyanum is known to local people by its vernacular
name “Kantaron, Antoron, Antoryon” in Arslanköy, Mersin prov-
ince. Anatomical studies were not found in the literature re-
view of the H. kotschyanum. In this study, the stem, leaf, and
root parts of the endemic species were examined and the ana-
tomical structure was revealed for the first time.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The studied material was collected from Arslanköy, Mersin, by
Prof. Dr. Şükran Kültür in June 2012. The collected specimens
were identified by Şükran Kültür. Dried specimens were kept
and filed using an ISTE number (ISTE 98173) in Istanbul Uni-
versity Faculty of Pharmacy Herbarium (ISTE). Some plant ma-
terials were stored in 70% ethanol for anatomical examination.
All sections from the plants were cut by hand using a blade.
Samples were examined in SARTUR reagent. Photographs
were taken using a light microscope (Olympus BH-2 and Can-
on A640 digital camera).
RESULTS
Leaf
On the cross-section of the leaf, there is a thick cuticle
layer on the outer surface. Trichome derived from epider-
mis are found on the lower and upper surface of the leaf.
Below the cuticle layer, there is a single-layer epidermal. In the
leaf mesophyll cross-section, palisade parenchyma cells are
located under the upper epidermis and there are spongy pa-
renchyma cells under this parenchyma layer. The mesophyll is
bifacial. Also, schizogenous secretory canals with a large gap
are distinguished (Figure 1). These gaps are 0,575±0,159 μm
in diameter. The leaf thickness is between 1,483-2,287 μm and
the average is 1,883±0,317 μm.
In the cross-section of the main vein, 3-4 layers of collenchyma
are observed under the upper epidermis. Xylem is on the low-
er side of the main vein and phloem is located on the upper;
the veins are collateral (Figure 1). The leaf’s main vein thickness
average is 3,47 μm.
When the superficial cross-section of the leaf was examined, it
was observed that the cover hairs were derived from the mid-
dle of 9 epidermal cells. Stoma was found only on the lower
surface of the leaf. The leaf is hypostomatic. Stomata are the
anomocytic type, but 3-5 cells are adjacent to the stoma (Fig-
ure 2). The stomatal index for the lower surface is 25.
Stem
In the cross-section of the stem, there is one epidermal layer
under the thick-walled cuticle. There are many one-celled eg-
landular trichomes on the epidermal layer. Under this epider-
mal layer, collenchyma cells are located as 7-8 layers (Figure 3).
The phloem layer extends under the collenchyma cells and the
width of the phloem layer is about 0,639 ± 0,073 μm. Also, large
secretory canals are observed on the phloem layer. Between
the phloem and xylem layer, there is a thin cambium layer. The
xylem has gaps that expand towards the pith. The pith is com-
posed of parenchymatic cells that vary in diameter (Table 1).
Figure 1. The cross-sections of leaf of H. kotschyanum ; (a) sc: secretory
canal, (b) tr: trichome, (c) ue: upper epidermis, le: lower epidermis,
cu: cuticle, co: collenchyma, ph: phloem, xy: xylem, (d) mesophyll
general view.
Figure 2. The surface sections of the leaf of H. kotschyanum; (a) lower
surface of the leaf (b) the upper surface of the leaf; e: epidermis,
st: stomata, tr: trichome.
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Altınbaşak et al. The anatomical properties of endemic Hypericum kotschyanum Boiss.
Root
In the cross-section of the root, there are 4-5 layers of periderm
on the outside. Just below this layer, there is cortex tissue
with a large number of secretory canals (Figure 4). Cortex tis-
sue thickness is 1,395 ± 0,063 μm. The phloem layer is located
outside the xylem and the average thickness is of this tissue
is about 0,443 ± 0,075 μm. Xylem tissue is located in the in-
nermost layer. There is a large width of traches. These traches
are about 0,202 ± 0,034 μm in width. The pith layer has paren-
cymatic cells.
DISCUSSION
The stem, leaf, and root anatomy of H. kotschyanum were ex-
amined for the first time with this study.
When we examined the stomata according to its neighboring
cells, we observed that the stomata is an anomocytic type in
the superficial section of the leaf. These observations on the
Hypericaceae family properties correspond to other studies
(Metcalfe & Chalk, 1957). In studies carried out by Tekin (2017)
and Altınbaşak (2019) the leaves of H. thymopsis Boiss. are bi-
facial, without hypodermis and stomata are anisocytic and
anomocyctic. In our study we observed that H. kotschyanum
stomata are anomocytic and the leaves are bifacial. Also H. per-
foratum, H. perfoliatum L., H. tetrapterum Fr., H. androsaemum L.,
and H. hircinum L., leaves are bifacial but the leaves of H. pu-
bescens Boiss., H. triquetrifolium Turra, and H. aegypticum L. are
isobilateral (Perrone et al., 2013a). Yaylacı et al. (2013) studied
the anatomical characteristics of H. sechmenii Ocak & Koyuncu.
Study showed that H. sechmenii has equifacial leaves, anomo-
cytic stomata.
The thick cuticle layer and stomata on the leaf only on the low-
er surface indicate that the plant grows in an environment that
requires the use of water more efficiently. Hence, the features
of this species confirm that H. kotschyanum has a xeromorphic
structure.
Ciccarelli et al. (2001) stated in their study that there is a
translucent secretion canal in the leaf of Hypericum perfora-
tum Secretion canals of the same type were observed in the
H. kotschyanum mesophyll layer. Also in the studies of Tekin
(2017) and Altınbaşak (2019), H. scabrum L. and H. thymopsis
have the same secretion canals. But H. spectabile Boiss does not
have these features. The number of the cells that radially sur-
round the bottom of the trichomes on the leaf surface is 9. This
can be specified as a characteristic feature of H. kotschyanum.
In the stem cross-section of H. kotschyanum, secretory canals
were observed just like in the H. perforatum species in Lotocka
& Osińska’s (2010) studies. In the study by Altınbaşak (2019) H.
spectabile has large secretion canals in the phloem layer like
H. kotschyanum. As in other studies with Hypericum species,
collenchyma tissue was observed in the stem cross-section
(Erkara & Tokur, 2004; Lotocka & Osińska, 2010). The presence
of wings on the stem is an important feature for Hypericum
species. Perrone et al. (2013a), Altınbaşak (2019), and Tekin
(2017) showed the presence of wings in the species in their
Figure 3. The cross-sections of the stem of H. kotschyanum; (a) general
view, (b) cortex and vascular bundles; ep: epidermis, c: cortex,
sc: secretory canal, fl: phloem, tr: trichomes, xy: xylem.
Figure 4. The cross-sections of root of H. kotschyanum; (a) general
view, (b) cortex and vascular bundles; pe: periderm, c: cortex,
sc: secretory canal, ph: phloem, xy: xylem.
Table 1. Anatomical measurements of H.kotschyanum.
Width (μm)
Number
Min.-Max. Avr.±Sd
Stem
Pith cell
(diameter)
0,143-0332 0,203±0,056
Trachea
(diameter)
0,158-0,311 0,232±0,044
Floem layer 0,552-0,751 0,639±0,073
Leaf
Secretory
pockets
(diameter)
0,462-0,687 0,575±0,159
Lower
stomata
8
Lower
epidermis
cell
32
Stomatal
index
25
Mesophyll
thickness
1,483-2,287 1,883±0,317
Root
Cortex
thickness
Phloem
thickness
Trachea
(diameter)
1,299-1,501
0,328-0,542
0,165-0,269
1,395±0,063
0,443±0,075
0,202±0,034
136
Istanbul J Pharm 51 (1): 133-136
studies and used these structures in the differentiation of spe-
cies. However, in H. kotschyanum stem cross-section, irregular
ridges are present and wing structure is not observed.
In the studies by Erkara & Tokur (2004) and Altınbaşak (2019),
it was stated that there are 4-5 rows of periderm layers in the
roots of H. montbretii Spach, H. origanifolium Willd., H. spectabile
and H. perforatum species. Also, H. kotschyanum has the same
number of periderm layers in the roots. In the study conducted
on H. montbretii, H. origanifolium, and H. perforatum species, the
existence of secretion canals in the roots are not mentioned
(Erkara & Tokur, 2004). Unlike these species, the existence of
secretory canals was observed in H. kotschyanum root cross-
section.
We examined Hypericum kotschyanum anatomically for the
first time. Therefore, this study is important in providing infor-
mation that will be the source of other studies on the plant.
Anatomical studies on the genus Hypericum can be used to
distinguish the species more prominently.
Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.
Author Contributions: Conception/Design of Study- O.A., G.E.G., Ş.K.;
Data Acquisition- O.A., G.E.G., Ş.K.; Data Analysis/Interpretation- O.A.,
G.E.G., Ş.K.; Drafting Manuscript- O.A., G.E.G., Ş.K.; Critical Revision of
Manuscript- O.A., G.E.G., Ş.K.; Final Approval and Accountability- O.A.,
G.E.G., Ş.K
Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to de-
clare.
Financial Disclosure: Authors declared no financial support.
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