Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. is a plant species used in popular medicine in Northeast of Brazil, whose pharmacological studies are very promising in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract. In this work, a pharmacobotanical study of the leaves was performed with the objective to elaborate a macroscopical and microscopical morphodiagnosis to support its characterization. The microscopical morphodiagnosis was done with paradermic sections on the blades and cross sections on the blades and petioles followed by clarification and coloring with safranin and safrablue, respectively, and examined by optical microscopy. Cissampelos sympodialis has peltate leaves with deltoid blades with actinodromous -brochidodromous nervation, and the petioles are swollen at the extremities. The epidermis is hipostomatic with anticlinal walls of epidermal cells waved in the upper surface and irregularly sinuate to wavy on the lower surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and the vascular system of the petiole is formed by a ring of 6-7 free collateral bundles. Sparce idioblasts of prismatic crystals in parenchyma of petiole were observed. The morphology of the leaves and the anatomy of epidermis are distinguishing characters of Cissampelos sympodialis.
Menispermaceae; Cissampelos sympodialis; morpho-anatomy; medicinal plants
