Insights in the knowledge of two Argentine medicinal species of the genus Hybanthus (Violaceae)

A differential morphoanatomical study was performed in two Argentine species: Hybanthus parviflorus and Hybanthus bigibbosus. Fresh material fixed in acetoalcoholic formalin and material from herbarium were employed. Paradermal and longitudinal sections of stems and transversal sections of leaves were prepared and stained with aqueous alcoholic safranin. The hydrochloric fluoroglucyn test was performed. Known and novel characters (distribution of vascular bundles of the primary stem and type and relative length of cover hairs and cuticular ornamentation of the adaxial epidermis, respectively) prove to be of value for the recognition of these species. Furthermore, the intestinal propulsor activity, related to the popular uses of these species was also assessed. Infusions of the whole plant, their roots and the 50% EtOH extracts of the aerial parts of H. parviflorus and H. bigibbosus were tested by the activated charcoal method. The extracts of H. parviflorus proved to have a significant activity which would allow validating its popular use.