COMPARATIVE PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF TWO GHANAIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS: SABA SENEGALENSIS AND SABA THOMPSONII

The study sought to describe the pharmacognostic features for identification and quality control of closely related species Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon and Saba thompsonii (A. Chev.) Pichon (Apocynaceae), useful medicinal plants against inflammation and its related diseases in Ghana and West Africa. Macro-morphological, qualitative and quantitative microscopic features as well as physicochemical, fluorescence and phytochemical properties, and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) profile of leaves, stem and roots of both plants were determined using standard methods. The results showed both plants are climbers with lanceolate leaves and acuminate apices. The differences in their calcium oxalate contents, the hypostomatic nature of the leaves with different stomatal types and epidermal cells, histological features of their midribs and surface data determinations and TLC profiles of the parts under study present useful data for clearly distinguishing between the two species of Saba. All plant parts contained varying amounts of nutritional elements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time detailed descriptions of the pharmacognostic features of the leaves, stem and roots of both plants have been provided to reinforce the differences in the species. This serves as important information for correct sourcing of these plants for research purposes and for use by individuals and herbal manufacturers.