Autoflorescence imaging of "Forget-Me-Not" (Plumbago auriculata) plant under UV excitation

• Main Authors: Bermas, Rojan Joseph C., Gatal, Maria Kristina S., Pobre, Romeric F.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2003
• Subjects: Fluorescence microscopy; Plumbago auriculata; Plant physiology; Optics; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12378
• Institution: De La Salle University

Cellular autofluorescence imaging on root and stem samples of "FORGET-ME-NOT" (scientific name Plumbago auriculata or P. auriculata) plant under UV excitation is investigated. Autofluorescence property of some complex molecules found in the plant is explored as a practical tool in identifying complex molecules that can be designed as biomarkers. These biomarkers can be used as a novel way in detecting human genes with high affinity. Moreover, the temporal autofluorescence intensity is likewise studied under common optical conditions of the epi-fluorescence microscope as a way in measuring photobleaching rate under UV excitation. Sagittal sectioned of root and stem samples were prepared on a glass slide sandwiched under a cover glass and exposed to a UV light with with an excitation and emission wavelengths of 330 nm and 441 nm respectively. Twenty-five (25) different root and stem samples were prepared and imaged by a sensitive CCD camera (Olympus DP-12) mounted on the trinocular port. Digital images were processed and stored in a desktop PC using Matlab ver. 6.1, application program to calculate the histogram of the autofluorescence images for both samples. Keeping the optical settings of the microscope nearly constant, t-test analysis of the mean luminosity showed that epi-fluorescence imaging screened the bioactive marker plumbagin. In general, the root part were found to be rich in plumbagin compared to the stem part despite of it's high luminosity.