Comparative Morphological and Anatomical Study of Fruits of Species of Genus Rosa L., Growing in Central Kazakhstan

Ishmuratova M.Yu.*, Gavrilkova E.A., Tleukenova S.U., Ageev D.V., Ramazanov A.K.

NC JSC Karaganda National Research University Named After E.A. Buketov,

Faculty of Biology and Geography,

Karaganda, Universitetskaya Str., 28, Campus 3, 100028, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

*Corresponding Author E-mail: margarita.ishmur@mail.ru

ABSTRACT:

Expansion of the range of medicinal plants, especially at the expense of substitute species, increases the sustainability of the raw material base for the local pharmaceutical and medical industry. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, 230 species of medicinal plants are in official use, although about 1500 taxa have potentially useful properties. One of the families with a large number of medicinal objects is Rosaceae. In this family, a promising group is the genus rosehip (Rosa L.), the fruits of which contain a large number of biologically active substances. Rosehip raw material is used in colds, respiratory and genitourinary infections, gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, as a choleretic, antidiabetic, and antioxidant agent. The present study is devoted to a comparative anatomical and morphological study of fruits of four species of rosehips (Rosa laxa, Rosa cinnamomea, Rosa spinosissima, Rosa acicularis) of the flora of Central Kazakhstan. Materials and methods. The object of the study was the fruits of four rosehips. Morphological and microscopic parameters were analyzed taking into account the recommendations and methods set forth in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Results and discussion. Comparative study of morphological characters revealed differences between species in shape and surface structure of fruits, color, presence of hypanthium and peduncle. At the microscopic level, differences in the structure of fruit epidermis cells, pulp, color, thickening of cell walls, shape and color of calcium oxalate druses, presence of hairs were noted. Conclusion. For the first time comparative study of fruits of four species of rosehips from Central Kazakhstan on macro- and microscopic level has been carried out; diagnostic features that allow identifying raw materials in whole and crushed form have been determined. The obtained results will serve as a basis for preparation of normative documents for rosehips fruits.

KEYWORDS: Rosa laxa, Rosa cinnamomea, Rosa spinosissima, Rosa acicularis, Raw materials, Fruits, Morphological and anatomical analysis, Diagnostic signs.

INTRODUCTION:

The sustainable development and rational use of plant resources are necessity of human¹. Introduction and practical application of new medicinal plants is a great importance for medicine and pharmacy. This direction expands the possibilities for using local vegetative sources base at the expanse of practical experiences accumulated by the traditional medicine.

So, in Kazakhstan 230 species from 161 genera and 71 families are used in officinal medicine and 92 taxa are registered in the State Register of Medicinal Preparations of Republic of Kazakhstan. About 1500 species are used in folk medicinal of different nations, or there are proven information on their biological properties^2,3.

In Rosaceae family only 13 representatives have official application in pharmacy, whereas в 212 species from 34 genera grow in republic⁴. One of the most wide spreading genus of Rosaceae is rosehip (Rosa L.), including 25 species with 4 endemics in Kazakhstan⁴. Of these, 6 species are found in Central Kazakhstan⁵: Rosa acicularis Lindl., Rosa glabrifolia C.A. Mey., Rosa laxa Retz., Rosa cinnamomea L., Rosa persica Michaut ex Juss., Rosa spinosissima L.

The State Pharmacopeia of Republic of Kazakhstan includes only following species: Rosa davurica Pall., Rosa cinnamomea L. (synonym Rosa majalis Herrm.), Rosa beggeriana Schrebk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey., Rosa webbiana Wall.ex Royle, Rosa rugosa Thunb⁶.

Rosa hips contain a significant amount of biological active compounds such as vitamins C, В2, Р, K, carotene, polysaccharides, starch, more than 6 trace elements, flavonoids, plyphenols, tannins, and antocianins^7-11. Extracts and tinctures based of the rosehip fruits are used as component of dietary nutrition, reduce risk of colds, have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic properties, and are used for treatment of respiratory infection, gastrointestinal and urinary diseases, diarrhea, depression, to enhance bile secretion, reduce fever, and antidote for poisoning of heavy metals^11-17.Also, fruits have application in food industry and for perfume and cosmetic industries⁹.

To expand the raw plant material base of Central Kazakhstan, it’s necessary to introduce into official use of other species of genus Rosa, as alternatives for pharmacopoeias representatives. The authenticity of plant raw materials is conformed using biological and physical-chemical methods, including macro- and microscopic. The studied signs allow identification of whole and crashed raw materials^8-21.

Based on the foregoing, we analyzed morphological and anatomical parameters of fruits of the four species rosehips growing in Central Kazakhstan

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Raw Materials:

The fruits of rosehips were collected at the territory of Karaganda region: 1) Rosa laxa – Kerney Forests, 1^st decade of September, 2023 (N50.251720; E74.361672); 2) Rosa cinnamomea – Karkaraly Mountains, 2^nd decade of September, 2024 (N49.456111; E75.481794); 3) Rosa spinosissima – Spassky Hills, 3rs decade of August, 2024 (N49.489699; E73.267961); 4) Rosa acicularis - Karkaraly Mountains, 2^nd decade of September, 2024 (N49.458514; E75.481922). Species identification was conducted by employees of botany department, faculty of biology and geography, NC JSC «Karaganda National Research University named after E.A. Buketov». Herbarium specimens of species are stored in the herbarium fund of the University (Index Herbariorum - QAR).

Morphological Study:

Dry samples of raw material (rosehips fruits) were photographed using a BioMed binocular macroscope (Russian Federation) with 0.6×; 2×, 4×, 5× eyepieces. Description was based on the structure of fruits surface, pulp and seeds⁶.

Anatomical Study:

Dry fruits were soaked in hot water and fixed in a mixture of ethyl alcohol 95% - glycerin 40% - distilled water in a ratio 1:1:1. Surface and pressed micro preparation were prepared manually²². The obtained micro specimens were viewed through a binocular microscope NINGBOSUNNY Instruments CoEX30 (China) with a digital camera Altami 8.5 Mpix (Russian Federation). Altami Studio software was used for photo processing. When describing the anatomical structure we used the principles outlined in the works of L.I. Lotova²³ and P.J. Rudall²⁴.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Morphological analysis of rosehips fruits:

Whole fruits of Rosa laxa are oblong, ovoid, rarely oval in shape (figure 1А), with an elongated spout, remnants of sepals and stalks. The fruits are fragile, easily broken into separate parts. Fruits of Rosa cinnamomea are narrow-elliptic, slightly elongated, with well-defined remnants of hypanthium and long peduncle (figure 1B); the structure is denser, breaking with force. Fruits of Rosa acicularis are pear-shaped, with a constriction at the hypanthium (figure 1C); hypanthium well expressed, consisting of fused leaflets, stalks short; structure fragile and easily broken into separate fragments. Rosa spinosissima has a spherical, slightly flattened fruit with short remnants of hypanthium and long stalks (figure 1D). The fruits are dense, breaking with considerable force. Comparative morphological characters of rose hips are given in the table 1.

Figure 1. Morphological structure of Rosa laxa (A), Rosa cinnamomea (B), Rosa acicularis (C), and Rosa spinosissima (D)

Table 1. Comparative morphological peculiarities of fruits of genus Rosa L. species

Признаки	*Rosa laxa*	*Rosa* *cinnamomea*	*Rosa acicularis*	*Rosa spinosissima*
Shape and size of fruit	Oblong, ovoid, oval, 3-3.5 cm long and up to 1 cm wide, remains of hypanthium, peduncle is short	Narrowly elliptic, 2-2.5 cm long and 0.6-0.8 cm wide, remains of hypanthia well expressed, peduncle is long	Pear-shaped, with a constriction at the apex, 2-2.4 cm long and 0.5-0.8 cm wide. Hypanthia is narrow, with fused leaflets, peduncle is short.	Rounded, slightly flattened, 1.2-1.6 cm in diameter. Remains of hypanthia weakly expressed, peduncle is long.
Structure of surface	Wrinkled, shiny	Fine-wrinkled, matte	Smooth, shiny	Rough, wrinkled
Fruit color	Red, brownish-red	Red, dark-ref	Orange, deep red	Dark-brawn, black.
Inner pulp	Abundantly lined with long bristly hairs	Dry, contains a large number of short bristles	Dry, abundantly lined with long white hairs	Dry, with short bristly hairs
Seeds	Different shapes, matt surface, white color	Rounded-long, surface matt, color is light-brown	Oval or oblong shape, matt surface, color is beige	Rounded shape, surface is rough, sometimes wrinkled, color is light gray
Flavor	Sour-sweet and slightly astringent	Slightly astringent	Sour-sweet and slightly astringent	Sweet, mildly astringent

Crushed fruits are represented by pieces of peels, hypanthia of various shapes and seeds. Nuts (seeds) are of various shapes; their surface is matt, whitish in color. The inner parts are abundantly lined with long bristly hairs, white in color. The odor of all species is almost absent; the flavor from sour-sweet and slightly astringent to sweet.

Fruit structure shows the presence of diagnostic differences between species in shape, coloration, surface texture and density of pulp.

Anatomical analysis of rosehips fruits:

The surface of Rosa laxa fruit is represented by a single-layer epidermis consisting of polygonal cells with straight, but unequally thickened cells (figure 2A), and in places, the cells are with well-defined thickenings. Stomata are sparse, of anomocytic type.

A (epidermis) B (pressed fruit pulp preparation)

C (epidermis) D (pressed fruit pulp preparation)

E (epidermis) F (pressed fruit pulp preparation)

G (epidermis) H (pressed fruit pulp preparation)

Figure 2. Anatomical structure of Rosa laxa (A, B), Rosa cinnamomea (C, D), Rosa acicularis (E, F), and Rosa spinosissima (G, H): 1 – pulp cells, 2, 3 – calcium oxalate druses, 4 – mechanical fibers

The surface is colored yellow, red or red-brown. Pressed micro preparation of fruit pulp is represented by fragments of epidermis, endocarp, mesocarp, and seeds. Parenchyma cells are round or oval shape, thin-walled, and loosely arranged around fragments of mesocarp and endocarp. Individual crystals, spherical in shape, darkly colored, as well as mechanical elements and their fragments in the form of long filaments are well observed. Druses of calcium oxalate are few, black in color, almost spherical in shape (figure 2B).

Epidermis of Rosa cinnamomea fruit is multilayered (figure 2C), consists of layers of polygonal cells, walls are straight, in some places distinctly thickened; color is red. In the fruit pulp, numerous, rounded, gray or almost black cells are clearly visible (figure 2D). Surface of Rosa acicularis fruit consists of rounded or oval cells with uniformly thickened walls (figure 2E), color pink to orange. Flesh dense, cells oval in shape, colored orange; druses are large, rounded, few; hairs fine and sinuous (figure 2F). Fruit of Rosa spinosissima is covered with epidermis consisting of rounded-multi-angular cells (figure 2G), walls thickened; color brown or black, dark red after fixative. The pulp is friable, composed of large oval, dark-colored cells; individual calcium oxalate druses, oval or rounded in shape, are observed. Comparison of microscopic parameters of rose hips is given in table 2.

Table 2. Comparative microscopic peculiarities of genus Rosa L. species

Sings	*Rosa laxa*	*Rosa* *cinnamomea*	*Rosa acicularis*	*Rosa spinosissima*
Epidermis of the fruit surface	Consists of polygonal cells, the walls are straight, irregularly thickened	Consists of rounded, polygonal cells, the walls are straight, crisp thickened	Consists of rounded or oval cells with thickened walls	Consists of rounded-multi-cornered cells, walls thickened
Epidermis color after fixer	Red, pink	Pink, light-red	Pink, orange	Brown, deep-red
Fruit flesh cells	Rounded or oval, friable, with thin walls	Oval, less often rounded, loose, with thin walls	Oval, friable, with thin walls	Large oval, dark-colored, with thin walls
Hairs	In the form of long threads	Rare, short	Shallow and winding	Short, straight
Calcium oxalate druses	Not numerous, globular, black	Numerous, rounded, gray or almost black in color	Large, rounded, few in number, black colored	Rounded or oval, black in color

Analysis of the obtained descriptions allows revealing differences in the structure of the epidermis of the fruit surface, which is expressed in the shape of cells, wall structure and coloration. In the structure of pulp of rosehip fruits there are also differences in the shape of cells, their coloring, location and shape of hairs and calcium oxalate druses. The made comparative tables allow to easily identify the species affiliation of raw materials (rosehips fruits), both in whole and crushed state.

CONCLUSION:

Macro- and microscopic studies of fruits of 4 species of rosehips growing in Central Kazakhstan: Rosa laxa, Rosa cinnamomea, Rosa acicularis, and Rosa spinosissima were carried out for the first time. Differences between the species were determined by the peculiarities of fruit shape, hypanthium, peduncle length, color and surface structure, peculiarities of epidermis, and pulp structure.

The diagnostic features of rosehip fruit raw material at the macroscopic level are: shape and color of peel, presence of seeds, their shape and color, presence of hairs, their shape and abundance. At the microscopic level, the following diagnostic features were determined: shape of epidermis cells, shape and coloration of calcium oxalate druses, shape of parenchyma cells, and threads of mechanical hairs.

The obtained results will serve as a basis for preparation of normative documents for identification of raw materials of four species of rose hips of flora of Central Kazakhstan.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan program No. BR28712367: Comprehensive study non-traditional wild medicinal plants, their genetic resources mobilization in botanical gardens of Western, Eastern and Central Kazakhstan, creation bio information database for the para pharmaceutical products development (2025-2027).

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Received on 18.04.2025 Revised on 16.08.2025

Accepted on 24.11.2025 Published on 20.05.2026

Available online from May 25, 2026

Research J. Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(5):2097-2101.

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00301

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