Morphological and microscopic features of Prunella vulgaris L. herb

Introduction. Authenticity of medicinal plant raw materials implies the conformity of this raw material to the name under which it enters production, in terms of "external signs" and "microscopic signs". These indicators are established for P. vulgaris herb. Objective: Establishment of the main diagnostic external and microscopic features of Prunella vulgaris L. herb, which should be detected when determining the authenticity of this medicinal plant raw materials. Material and methods. The study was carried out with air-dry raw materials – Prunella vulgaris herb, collected in the flowering phase – the beginning of fruiting. Various types of optical microscopy were used: light, fluorescent, and stereomicroscopy. Results. Main diagnostic morphological features of Prunella vulgaris L. are leaf form and leaf edge, degree of pubescence, corolla color which are observed using stereo microscopy. P. vulgaris leafs have ovoid or lanceolate form with whole edge, less often with dentate-crenate edge. The main diagnostic microscopic features are petiolar features such as collateral closed vascular bundles, one central large and two side in the P. vulgaris petiole Autoluminescence of leaf tissue are different. Conclusion. We detected main morphological and anatomical features of Prunella vulgaris L. herb using optical microscopy: light, luminescent and stereo. We also detected new diagnostic features and clarified the structure of leafs, stems, flowers and seeds. These results may be used for project of pharmacopoeia article «Prunella herb» in the chapter «Autheticity».