Histochemical Localization of Essential Oils and Bioactive Substances in the Seed Coat of the Halophyte Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae)

Despite seeds and fruits of several halophytes being rich in essential oils and other bioactive substances, the histochemical characterization of these compounds has not received much attention. The aims of the present investigation were to localize the essential oils and the bioactive substances in the seed coat of the oilseed halophyte Crithmum maritimum L. Fruits were collected from the rocky coasts of Tabarka (NW of Tunisia, 36A degrees 57'12aEuro(3) N, 08A degrees 45'18aEuro(3) E). C. maritimum L. seed is shown to be surrounded by two envelopes: The first structure is a secretory envelope, consisting in about 20 canals. The second layer represents the endocarp. As revealed by fluorescence and light microscopy, the essential oils, O-dihydroxyphenols and flavonoids, known as bioactive compounds, were accumulated in the canals. The endocarp layer accumulated polysaccharides, O-dihydroxyphenols, and flavonoids. As a whole, these findings highlight the histochemical features and confirm the valuable quality of C. maritimum L. seeds.