International Research Journal of Plant Science (ISSN: 2141-5447) Vol. 3(5) pp.

88-93, July, 2012 Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJPS Copyright 2012 International Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Ecological influence on selected Aloe vera populations in two geographical zones in Nigeria
O. T. Okareh*1, David Enesi1 and O.I.Shittu2
1

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria 2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Abstract

Morphological, phytochemical and leaf epidermal studies were carried out on three populations of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. collected from North Central and South West geographical zones of Nigeria with a view to determining the extent of their environmentally induced variations. Morphological studies based on qualitative and quantitative features proved useful for determining significant discontinuities. Phytochemical screening indicated that all the populations have similar chemical constituents. Despite similar anticlinal wall pattern, epidermal cell size indicated significant difference among the study groups. Correlation of all the studied parameters employed indicated that the selective forces in their natural habitat have set in motion an evolutionary process as most of the parameters studied remained significantly different among the populations after cultivating the populations under the same conditions. Keywords: Epidermal studies, Aloe Vera, Phytochemical screening, environmental induced variations. INTRODUCTION Aloe vera Linn. is a monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Liliaceace (Subfamily: Asphodelaceae). It is a perennial herb or shrub exhibiting xerophytic characters (Akinyele and Odiyi, 2007). Aloe vera is widely grown as an ornamental plant as well as a medicinal plant. The medicinal potency of Aloe vera has greatly been harnessed since ancient times and widely used throughout the world (Akinyele and Odiyi, 2007; Raj and Joseph, 2010). Large scale commercial production is also undertaken to meet up demand of culinary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries (Grindlay and Reynold, 1986). Aloe vera plant is native to Africa (Anselm, 2004). However, because of its wide adaptability as well as its importance as medicinal plants, the crop is well distributed throughout the entire tropical and sub-tropical regions, since its water requirement is very low (Raj and Joseph, 2010). Plants are greatly influenced by ecological factors. Much of the phenotypic variations encountered are the result of the plastic response of the individual to factors of the environment. However, some of these variations have been genetically fixed and are of interest in understanding evolutionary processes. According to Langlet (1963), Species with wide distribution give clear evidence of hereditary adaptation to varying environmental conditions as diverse environmental conditions engender diverse patterns of species variation. The aim of this study therefore is to determine the variations in morphology, phytochemistry and leaf epidermal anatomy of selected Aloe vera populations as influenced by environmental conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Representative population samples of Aloe vera species collected from three selected ecological zones were brought into cultivation in the Biological garden of University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria using strip method. Ten Aleo vera of each population were planted in three rows. The plants were allowed to acclimatize for a period of one year and grow under the same conditions in order to

*Corresponding

Author

E-mail: dapsy2001@yahoo.co.uk

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Table 1. Designated specimens and places of collection

Specimens AKG-K01 APL-P01 AON-A01

Place of collection Behind ECWA church complex, Kuroko, Kogi state. Around Pankshin dam, Pankshin, Jos, Plateau state. Ijoka, Akure, Ondo state.

Table 2. Mean Values of Measurements of Vegetative Characters

Specimens AKG-K01 APL-P01 AON-A01

leaf length (cm) 23.9 1.08 16.4 0.68 26.0 0.71

leaf width (cm) 3.0 0.11 6.7 0.33 5.0 0.17

number of leaves/plant 12.0 11.6 12.2

Spine freq. /10cm 10.31 13.91 6.32

Mottle frequency/4cm2 Adaxial Abaxial 41.6 1.077 51.0 1.703 _ _ _ _

Values presented are means SEM

Figure 1. AKG-K01

neutralize the phenetic effects conferred on each population by the climatic and edaphic components of their respective natural environments. COLLECTION OF MATERIALS Specimens analysis Morphology Vegetative morphology were investigated based on number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, spine frequency and leaf alternate phyllotaxy. Phytochemical analysis Fresh leaves of Aloe vera were chopped into small pieces, air dried and used for the preparation of ethanolic extract. The extract was qualitatively analysed as described by Harborne (1973); and Odebiyi and Sofowora (1979).

Leaf epidermal anatomy A thin slice was cut mid-way between the leaf base and apex from either side of the leaf (adaxial and abaxial) using a sharp razor blade. The segment was hydrolysed in dilute HNO3 for few minutes and washed. Slides of both abaxial and adaxial sides of leaves were prepared and observed under Olympus microscope. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Morphology Generally, all the specimens retained their initial morphological differences after a period of acclimatizing to their new habitat. All the Aloe vera groups used in this research exhibited a pentastichous alternate phyllotaxy, however, they exhibited clear differences in leaf colour, length and width, nature of the spine, size and shape of the plant as presented in figure1-3. Details of the vegetative characteristics are as shown in table 2. Qualitatively, all specimens of AKG-K01 were reddish green in colour, those of APL-P01 were distinctly deep

90 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.

Figure 2. APL-P01

Figure 3. AON-A01 Photographs of Aloe vera Groups (Representative) Showing Vegetative Morphology

Table 3. Qualitative phytochemical screening

Group sample AKG-K01 APL-P01 AON-N01

Flavonoids -

Anthraquinone + * +

Glycosides + + +

Saponin + + +

Steriods + + +

Key: (+) indicates present, (-) absent and (*) indicates a slight and almost undetectable colour change

green in colour while those of AON-A01 were pale green in colour. The nature of the spines of AKG-K01 peripheral upturned white spines, APL-P01 has deep-seated jagged edges ending in brownish thorns while AON-A01 and AON-A02 have superficial and succulent white spines. This is contrary to findings of Akinyele and Odiyi (2007), which indicated that spine frequency is stable across all Aloe vera groups. Statistically significant morphological variations are presented in table 6. Phytochemistry The result of the phytochemical analysis showed no significant difference among all the groups investigated.This is consistent with previous findings of Anselm (2004), who indicated that all the various species of Aloe are known to have similar chemical constituents. The anthraquinone constituent, though present for all

study populations, indicates only a slight colour change for both APL-P01. The phytochemical analysis indicated a negative result for flavonoid screening. This is contrary to the findings of Arunkumar and Muthuselvam (2009), Ejoba (2012), Nnwaoguikpe et al. (2010) and Yebpella (2011). This seemingly incongruities maybe traced to the phenetic effects conferred on each population through acclimatization process or the qualitative approached used for the screening process. See details in table 3. Leaf Epidermal Anatomy Various studies have emphasized the significance of foliar epidermal anatomy in the systematic of many plant groups (Stace, 1984; Wilkins and Sabanci, 1990; Mustapha, 2000a; Ahmad et al., 2010), thus suggesting that leaf surface patterns, anatomical features and structures are genetically controlled.

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Table 4. Data from Epidermal Cell Measurements.

Groups AKG-K01 APL-P01 AON-A01

Surface Adaxial Abaxial Adaxial Abaxial Adaxial Abaxial

Mean length (m) 53.6 ( 2.347) 51.6 ( 3.491) 73.3 ( 2.160) 78.4 ( 5.182) 55.1 ( 2.434) 52.9 ( 1.466)

Mean width (m) 36.6 ( 0.928) 34.3 ( 0.844) 49.9 ( 2.072) 52.9 ( 1.599) 33.6 ( 1.918) 37.9 ( 1.631)

Cell Index ( /l) 0.683 0.665 0.681 0.675 0.609 0.716

Values presented are means SEM

Table 5. Data from Stomatal Cell Measurements

Groups AKG-K01 APL-P01 AON-A01

Surface Adaxial Abaxial Adaxial Abaxial Adaxial Abaxial

Stomatal length (m) 34.3 ( 0.677) 40.3 ( 1.048) 34.7 ( 0.801) 38.6 ( 1.515) 35.6 ( 1.286) 30.4 ( 0.801)

Stomatal width (m) 23.6 ( 0.677) 33.4 ( 1.091) 18.0 ( 1.091) 28.3 ( 1.048) 29.1 ( 0.525) 28.7 ( 0.525)

Table 6. Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Parameters Values are means SEM. Mean values in the same row followed by different superscripts are significantly different (p<0.05).

Variables Mean Chromatin length Spine frequency Mean Leaf length Mean Leaf width Mottle freq. (Adaxial) Mottle freq. (Abaxial) Epidermal cell length (Adaxial) Epidermal cell width (Adaxial) Epidermal cell length (Abaxial) Epidermal cell width (Abaxial)

AKG-K01 11.611.34 b 10.311.02 b 23.901.08 c 3.000.11 d 41.601.08 b b 51.001.70 bc 2.500.35 1.710.14 2.410.52
b

APL-P01 16.612.39a 13.911.11a 16.400.68d 6.680.33 a -d d 3.420.38 2.330.31

a a

AON-A01 9.661.19 6.320.35 26.000.71 4.940.20 -d d 2.570.36 1.570.28 2.470.22 1.770.24

b c bc b

bc bc

3.660.76 2.470.24

a a

b b

1.600.12 bc

Values presented are means SEM

Photomicrograph of leaf epidermal anatomy

Abaxial surface

Adaxial surface

Figure 4. Leaf epidermal cells of AKG-K01

92 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.

Abaxial surface

Adaxial surface

Figure 5. Leaf epidermal cells of APL-P01

Abaxial surface

Adaxial surface

Figure 6. Leaf epidermal cells of AON-A01

The leaf surfaces of all study populations are glabrous. Stomatal index indicate that the stomatal cells on the abaxial surface are more frequent than on the adaxial surface. Also, the anticlinal wall patterns and shape of the epidermal cell of all the study populations are similar except the adaxial surface of members of AKG-K01 population that seemed rectangular. However, APL-P01 has a considerably larger epidermal cell than the others. Duncan analysis of the epidermal cells both on the adaxial and abaxial distinctly separates APL-P01 from the other specimens under study (See table 4 -5 and figure 4-6). CONCLUSION The differences which were retained after cultivation in the same condition suggest that such differences are genetically-based. It can therefore be advanced that the selected ecological zones of the study populations conferred on them an ample genetic differentiation, which is evident in their morphology and epidermal leaf anatomy. This inference however, does not hold true for the phytochemical constituents of the Aloe vera groups.

Therefore, the geographical distribution of Aloe vera does not compromise its medicinal importance.
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