Paul Raj K, Irudayaraj V, Johnson M, Patric Raja D
Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai, India.
Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Jan;1(1):8-11. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60059-2.
To study the morphology, biochemistry and bioactivity of the epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of Christella parasitica (C. parasitica) (L.) H. Lev.
Morphological studies on epidermal glands were carried out by using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. To prepare the extract, the shade-dried fronds of glandular morphotype were soaked in acetone. For antibacterial studies paper disc method was followed by using various pathogenic bacteria.
Detailed micromorphological, phytochemical and bioactivity studies on a medicinal fern C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. showed its intraspecific variation in antibacterial activity. The presence or absence of the epidermal glands was the key factor for antibacterial activity in the morphovariants of this species. The epidermal glands were orange-coloured, stalked and elongated ones of about 84.2 µm × 45 µm, and distributed on the undersurface of costa, costules and veins in croziers, young and mature leaves. Frequency of glands varied from 15/cm on costa in mature leaves to 140/cm on costules in croziers. The acetone extract of the glands showed antibacterial activities and also toxic effect against mosquito larvae and tadpoles of frog. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPLC studies of the gland extract showed the presence of various kinds of terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids in it.
The present study shows that epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. have several bioactive compounds and such rare morphovariant should be conserved in nature. The next step is to isolate the pure compounds and to screen the bioactivity of individual compounds of the epidermal glands.
研究寄生曲轴蕨（Christella parasitica (L.) H. Lev.）腺体型表皮腺体的形态、生物化学及生物活性。
利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对表皮腺体进行形态学研究。为制备提取物，将腺体型的阴干叶浸泡在丙酮中。抗菌研究采用纸片法，使用多种病原菌。
对药用蕨类植物寄生曲轴蕨（Christella parasitica (L.) H. Lev.）进行的详细微观形态学、植物化学和生物活性研究表明，其种内存在抗菌活性差异。表皮腺体的有无是该物种形态变异体抗菌活性的关键因素。表皮腺体为橙色、有柄且细长，大小约为84.2 µm×45 µm，分布在拳卷叶、幼叶和成熟叶的主脉、侧脉及叶脉下表面。腺体频率从成熟叶主脉上的15个/cm到拳卷叶侧脉上的140个/cm不等。腺体的丙酮提取物具有抗菌活性，对蚊虫幼虫和青蛙蝌蚪也有毒性作用。对腺体提取物的初步植物化学分析和高效液相色谱研究表明，其中含有多种萜类、生物碱、单宁、皂苷和黄酮类化合物。
本研究表明，寄生曲轴蕨（Christella parasitica (L.) H. Lev.）腺体型的表皮腺体含有多种生物活性化合物，这种罕见的形态变异体应在自然环境中加以保护。下一步是分离纯化合物并筛选表皮腺体单个化合物的生物活性。
