Characterization of Morphology, Anatomy, and Phytochemical Content of Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum Pictum L. Griff)

Abstract

Graptophyllum pictum L. Griff, called caricature plant is commonly used as medicinal plant. Caricature plant is indigenous plant as was reported to prosses that can function as uncer, laxative, and menstruation problem. However, there were very limited information about caricature plant accession with high biomass and high phytochemical content. Therefore exploration to habitat of caricature plant or their production site is needed to obtain caricature plant accessions with high biomass and high phytochemical content. The objective of this study was to explore the diversity of caricature plant accessions, morphology, anatomy, and phytochemicals caricature plant. This study also objected to analize and the similarity level of 32 caricature plant accesions, and study the agroecological correlation with morphology, anatomy, and phytochemicals contents of those accessions. The research was conducted in Indonesian Medicinal and Aromatics Crop Research Institute (IMACRI) Cimanggu Bogor. The study was started in June 2008 until September 2009. Plant material use in this study was stem cutting of caricature plant from various locations which previous explorased by KKP3T research team, include West Java, Central Java, East Java, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Ambon, Papua, and IMACRI collections. This experiment was arranged in completely randomized design with single factor (32 caricature plant accessions based on area of origin) and two replications. One replication consisted of 10 plants. The results showed caricature plants fom different location have similarity with plant morphology include sectional stem cross shape, the surface of the stem, branching, leaf base shape, nervatio, and leaf abaxial surface. The diversity of plant morphology shape of leaves and leaf edges. Leaf anatomy analysis result showed that leaf thickness was similar between handeuleum accessions originated from various locations. In contrast, there was variation in the stomatal density of handeuleum accessions. Phytochemical analysis of caricature plant leaves showed that all of the caricature plant accessions have high alkaloids and glycosides content. There were variations in saponin, tanin, phenolic, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroid content of caricature plant accessions.