The Leguminosae genus Indigofera has two important pharmacological species, Indigofera suffruticosa and I. truxillensis. The present work aims to establish a morphological quality control for vegetal drugs obtained from these two species through the analyses of surface and organoleptic features in leaflet powder, and also through anatomical and histochemical studies in leaflet, shoot and root. Powder analyses evidenced that shape and ornamentation of the simple trichomes are good diagnostic characters for the sprayed drug, with particles bigger than 53 µm; moreover, odor was strong and awkward, with non-persistent, weakly bitter taste in I. suffruticosa, and weak and pleasant, with more persistent, bitter taste in I. truxillensis. Similar anatomical structures were found in leaflets, cauline internodes and lateral roots in both species, except for papillose epidermic cells that occurred in both leaflet sides in I. truxillensis, and only on the adaxial side in I. suffruticosa. Phenolic compounds were found in leaflets, and alkaloids in shoots and roots (greater amount) of both studied species. The occurrence of alkaloids in roots of I. suffruticosa and I. truxillensis seems to be similar to that observed in ichthyotoxic legume species that belong to the so-called "timbó complex", whose roots are toxic due to rotenoids.
Indigofera; anatomy; quality control; histochemistry; leaf; shoot; root
