Microscopic Evaluation and Qualitative Phytochemical Screening of Corchorus olitorius L. (Molokhia) Leaves

Corchrous is a genus which belongs to Tiliaceae family distributed across Asia and Africa. In the world, the Corchorus genus encompasses 75 taxa. Widely distributed across the tropics, Corchorus olitorius L. (Molokhia) is most likely found in every tropical African nation. Its use as a wild or farmed vegetable has been reported by numerous countries in tropical Africa. In Cyprus, this plant is used to prepare a dish after drying in the summer. The aim of this study was to investigate microscopic evaluation and phytochemical profile of the leaf extracts of C. olitorius. In microscopic evaluation experiments, powdered leaf part of the plant was examined under the microscope. For determination of phytochemical profile, some of secondary metabolites were determined qualitatively by chemical reactions. Microscopic analysis revealed that molokhia leaves displayed epidermis, stoma, calcium oxalate crystals, spongy parenchyma, glandular hair, trichome, midrib. The phytochemical profile identification of the leaf extracts of C. olitorius, revealed the presence of some active ingredients such as carbohydrates, cardioactives, and flavonoids.