Choleretic Activity of Five Species of Baccharis (“Carquejas”) Used as Phytotherapics in Argentinean Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Several Baccharis species known as "carquejas" are used in Argentinean folk medicine as phytotherapics. B. crispa, B. articulata, B. trimera, B. sagittalis and B. triangularis have been evaluated for their choleretic activity using Wistar rats. B. sagittalis and B. triangularis showed a significant choleretic activity (bile flow of 1.631 ± 0.089 and 1.598 ± 0.196 μl/min/g liver, respectively). B. crispa, B. trimera showed moderate activity and B. articulata exhibited the same choleretic property that the control. Only, B. articulata and B. crispa are informed as official drugs in the Argentinean Pharmacopoeia. In addition, phytochemical constituents and botanical characters are reported.