Leaves of the Brazilian Cerrado plant Gomphrena arborescens L.f. are used against dismenorea in popular medicine. The morphological, anatomical and histochemical investigation aims to help taxonomy, quality control of drugs and microscopical identification of phytotherapics. The leaves have been collected in Brasília, DF, in the Olympical Center of the University of Brasilia and in the Ecological Reserve of IBGE. The leaf architecture, stomatal and veinlet densities have been studied in clarified leaves, presenting average of 42,39±15,50 stomata mm² and 11,7±3,55 veinlet mm-2. Leaves presented two forms of tector trichomes. The bilateral mesophyll surrounds the complete bundle sheat, features of the Kranz syndrome associated with C4 photosynthetic pathway. The starch is concentrated in the bundle sheat cells. Leaves are rich in cellulose, calcium oxalate druses, proteins, lignin and other phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids. Leaves present variable morphology, but steady pattern of anatomy and veination.
Gomphrena arborescens; leaf architecture; Kranz syndrome; phenolic compounds; flavonoids
