Vegetative anatomy and micromorphology of Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae) from Mexico, combined with chromatographic analysis of salvinorin A.
Journal of natural medicines January 1, 2014 Anna P Kowalczuk, Vijayasankar Raman, Ahmed M Galal et al. 13 citations
Salvia divinorum, a species traditionally cultivated in Oaxaca, Mexico, has hallucinogenic properties and is legally controlled in many countries. Proper identification of the plant in fresh and dried forms is important for crime prevention. This paper provides a thorough anatomical description of leaves, petioles, and stems, with detailed investigation and illustration of foliar trichomes. Chromatographic analyses, including TLC and HPLC, were applied to fresh and dried plant material alongside the standard reference salvinorin A. A comprehensive identification method based on anatomical examination combined with chemical analysis is proposed for proper plant recognition.