Pharmacobotanical characterization of common arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v11i3.3541Keywords:
Marantaceae, Anatomy, Histochemistry, MicroscopyAbstract
*Maranta arundinacea* L., a member of the Marantaceae family, is traditionally valued for its culinary and medicinal uses, yet it still lacks the technical-scientific studies needed to underpin its widespread application. This study aimed to characterize the species' external morphology, anatomy, and histochemistry, thereby contributing to its reliable identification and functional appreciation. Plant material was collected from an agroecological cultivation site in Rio Formoso (Pernambuco), processed as herbarium specimens, and analyzed using classical botanical and histochemical techniques via light microscopy. Morphological results revealed starch-rich fusiform rhizomes, leaves with a prominent pulvinus, and paniculate inflorescences. Anatomical analysis highlighted the presence of sclerenchyma in the rhizome and polyarch root, an amphistomatic leaf blade containing prismatic crystals, and an absence of trichomes on the pulvinus and petiole. Histochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, starch, mucilages, pectins, proteins, and lipids, primarily within storage and conducting tissues. Tests for tannins, triterpenes, and steroids yielded negative results. These findings confirm diagnostic traits distinguishing the species from congeners such as *Maranta pilosissima* and provide a scientific basis for its traditional use as an easily digestible food and therapeutic agent. In conclusion, the pharmacobotanical and metabolic characterization of *M. arundinacea* supports its inclusion in public policies regarding Unconventional Food Plants (PANC), aids in the standardization of its production chain, and reinforces its potential as a strategic functional resource for food security, family farming, and phytotherapy.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Liliane Maria da Silva, Maria Karoline Alves dos Santos, Herlayne Carolayne Caetano da Silva, Felipe Ribeiro da Silva, Marina Maria Barbosa de Oliveira, Cledson dos Santos Magalhães, Karina Perrelli Randau
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