Morpho-anatomical characteristics of the raw material of the herbal drug Olivae folium and its counterfeits

Abstract

The olive tree leaf is a very significant plant raw material from the medical and economic points of view (Ph. Eur. 5, PDR). In the region of Southeast Europe, olive leaves are most commonly adulterated with oleander leaves and the leaves of Pittosporum tobira. This paper deals with the morphological and anatomical features of leaves of the following species: Olea europaea, Nerium oleander and Pittosporum tobira. The aim of this research was to define concrete diagnostic parameters permitting detection of adulterants in commercial samples of the herbal drug Olivae folium.

Keywords

• Olivae folium
• Nerium oleander
• Pittosporum tobira
• counterfeits
• leaves
• anatomy
• morphology