[Anatomical structure and histochemical localization about rhizomes of five species of Polygonatum].
OBJECTIVE
The microscopic structure and histochemical localization of the Polygonatum sibiricum, P. cytonema, P. filipes, P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum was studied.


METHODS
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and digital biological microscope (DBM) were applied in the research.


RESULTS
Venation bundle showed in three types included collateral, amphivasal and incomplete amphivasal bundles. Morphological differences of venation bundles could be seen under the fluorescence microscope. Calcium oxalate existed in the mucilage cells looked similar to columnar crystals under SEM. In rhizome of Polygonatum, polysaccharides presented in mucilage cells, saponins and volatile oil were found in ground tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Microstructure difference of rhizomes would be used for identification of the Polygonatum plants. Polysaccharides and saponins are distributed in different cells of Polygonatum plants.
Department of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Key Laboratory of Modernized Chinese Materia Medica, Hefei 230031, China. chengmingen@yeah.net
Ming-En
ME
Cheng
De-Qun
DQ
Wang
D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D031384:Polygonatum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012503:Saponins; D002129:Calcium Oxalate