Viscum albumL. (Santalaceae) is an important medicinal plant traditionally used to treat several diseases, including cancer therapy. This paper provides detailed morpho-anatomical characteristics of the leaves, stems and berries ofViscum albumsubsp.albumgrowing as hemi-parasite on the branches ofMalus domestica(Suckow) Borkh. (Rosaceae) to aid species identification and botanical characterization. Additionally, for the first time, microchemical analyses of all tissues and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy analyses of the calcium oxalate crystals are provided for the first time. The plant features leathery presents green leaves with parallel veins, small yellow unisexual flowers in 3-flowered cymes, and the dioecious inflorescences usually consist of three flowers, with female flowers generating white fleshy berries, in which a seed is embedded in the mucilaginous mesocarp, normally containing two embryos. Anatomically, the analyzed leaves were isobilateral and amphistomatic, and showed straight anticlinal epidermal cell walls, thick cuticles with epicuticular wax crystalloids, and paracytic stomata. The midrib is flat on both sides and has a single vascular bundle, whereas the strongly shortened petiole is concave-convex in shape and contains five bundles. The stems show a primary structure with a ring of nine vascular bundles enclosing the pith. Calcium oxalate druses and cubic and quadrangular prisms were observed in different plant parts. The results of this study provide new microscopy information that can help in the authentication of mistletoe raw materials.

The leaves of Monteverdia ilicifolia (syn. Maytenus ilicifolia), commonly called espinheira-santa, are widely used in South American traditional medicines to treat gastritis and ulcers. Several products labeled as espinheira-santa are sold as dietary supplements in retail stores and via e-commerce. Many different species with similar leaf morphology are often mistaken for Monteverdia ilicifolia and used as espinheira-santa, including Monteverdia aquifolia (Celastraceae), Citronella gongonha (Cardiopteridaceae), Jodina rhombifolia (Santalaceae), Sorocea bonplandii (Moraceae), and Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae). This study aimed to characterize M. ilicifolia and distinguish it from adulterants using morphological and microscopic techniques. In addition, foreign matter and powder characteristics of botanical materials sold as “espinheira-santa” were analyzed. The morphoanatomical studies of the leaves and stems of M. ilicifolia and its five adulterant species have revealed noteworthy features that can help species identification and quality control of commercial espinheira-santa. This study showed that many commercial espinheira-santa materials were adulterated and of inferior quality.

Background and Purpose: Natural products are potential sources of anticancer components. Among various species, the lipophilic extract of the Viscum album subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm. (VALE) has shown promising therapeutic potential. The present work aimed to qualify the plant source and characterize the extract’s chemical profile. In addition, a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing VALE (SNEDDS-VALE) was developed. Methods: V. album subsp. austriacum histochemistry was performed, and the chemical profile of VALE was analyzed by GC-MS. After the SNEEDS-VALE development, its morphology was visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while its stability was evaluated by the average droplet size, polydispersity index (PdI) and pH. Lastly, SNEDDS-VALE chemical stability was evaluated by LC-DAD-MS. Results: The histochemical analysis showed the presence of lipophilic compounds in the leaves and stems. The major compound in the VALE was oleanolic acid, followed by lupeol acetate and ursolic acid. SNEDDS was composed of medium chain triglyceride and Kolliphor^® RH 40 (PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil). A homogeneous, isotropic and stable nanoemulsion was obtained, with an average size of 36.87 ± 1.04 nm and PdI of 0.14 ± 0.02, for 14 weeks. Conclusion: This is the first histochemistry analysis of V. album subsp. austriacum growing on Pinus sylvestris L. which provided detailed information regarding its lipophilic compounds. A homogeneous, isotropic and stable SNEDDS-VALE was obtained to improve the low water solubility of VALE. Further, in vitro and in vivo experiments should be performed, in order to evaluate the antitumoral potential of SNEDDS-VALE.

The plant species identification process is one of the most critical stages of quality control of plant raw material. Microscopy serves as the most accessible means for this purpose. Epidermal appendages, such as trichomes, are important botanical markers of plant drugs, taking into account their presence or absence and micromorphology. Trichomes are useful in detecting adulterants or substitutes and in authenticating plant raw materials. The genus Solidago includes two morphologically similar South American species, S. chilensis Meyen and S. microglossa DC. (syn. S. chilensis var. megapotamica). The two species belong to the “S. chilensis” complex and are commonly called arnica-do-mato or arnica. They are morphologically separated primarily on the basis of the average length of the non-glandular trichomes present in the stems. The objective of this study was to search for microscopic markers for the identification and differentiation of these two species to support species identification and quality control of the vegetable raw material. For this purpose, the usual techniques of light and scanning electron microscopy were used. Five types of trichomes were found in this study: I. Simple non-glandular trichome, II. Uniseriate non-glandular trichome, III. Biseriate non-glandular trichome, IV. Flagelliform glandular trichome, and V. Capitate glandular trichome. S. chilensis has simple non-glandular, flagelliform glandular, and rarely capitate glandular trichomes. Whereas, in addition to its glandular trichomes, S. microglossa has two types of non-glandular trichomes: biseriate and uniseriate. Thus, the two South American species of Solidago can be microscopically identified and differentiated based on the presence and absence of the characteristic trichomes. These differences can serve as pharmacognostic subsidies for quality control of the evaluated species.

The genus Eugenia (Myrtaceae) is widely distributed in Brazil and is known for producing diverse secondary metabolites with various biological activities, although several species remain poorly explored. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of seven Eugenia species (E. brasiliensis, E. involucrata, E. longipedunculata, E. myrcianthes, E. neoverrucosa, E. pyriformis, and E. uniflora), compare their chemical profiles using multivariate analysis, and evaluate their insecticidal activity against the flea Ctenocephalides felis felis. EOs were obtained from dried leaves by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to compare chemical compositions, and contact bioassays were conducted to assess insecticidal activity against adult fleas. The EOs showed distinct chemical compositions, with major constituents varying by species, including α-pinene, (E)-caryophyllene, viridiflorene, β-selinene, limonene, and germacrone. PCA revealed clear differences among species, particularly highlighting oils dominated by α-pinene and sesquiterpene-derived compounds. In the bioassays, E. uniflora showed the highest insecticidal activity, reaching 95.1% mortality at 800 µg·cm⁻² and presenting an LC₅₀ of 9.12 µg·cm⁻², whereas E. brasiliensis showed moderate activity (LC₅₀ = 157.82 µg·cm⁻²). These findings expand the chemical knowledge of the genus and indicate the potential of E. uniflora EO as a natural source of insecticidal compounds against C. felis felis.