Table 1. Distribution, vernacular names, folk medicinal uses and tested biological activity of Baccharis species. AN = Antilles; AR = Argentina; BO = Bolivia; BR = Brazil; CH = Chile; CO = Colombia; CR = Costa Rica; EC = Ecuador; ES = El Salvador; GU = Guatemala; HO = Honduras; ME = Mexico; NC = Nicaragua; PA = Paraguay; PE = Peru; PN = Panama. UR = Uruguay; US = United States; VE = Venezuela.
Species |
Distribution |
Vernacular name |
Folk medicinal use |
Tested biological activity |
Baccharis anomalaDC. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
-- |
vagina and wounds wash, general infections (Souza, 2004) |
-- |
Baccharis artemisioides Hook. & Arn. |
AR, UR |
“mío-mío blanco”, “pichana blanca”, “romerillo”, “romerillo blanco”, “romerillo malo” (Argentina). |
antirrheumatic, for treating traumatisms (Zardini, 1984) |
antifeedant (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers. |
AR, BO, BR, PA, UR |
“caápé guasú”, “carqueija”, “carqueja”, “carqueja amarga”, “carqueja blanca”, “carqueja cenicienta”, “carqueja crespa”, “carqueja gris”, “carquejilla”, “chirca melosa” (Paraguay), “cola de yacaré”, “planta del yaguareté”, “yaguaretá-caá” (Argentina); “carqueja”, “carqueja-do-morro”, “vassoura” (Brazil). |
digestive, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antirrheumatic, antiseptic, for male sexual impotence, for female sterility (Zardini, 1984) |
antioxidant (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis boliviensis (Wedd.) Cabrera |
AR, BO, CH, PE |
“chijua”, “romero”, “tola” (Argentina). |
medicinal (Erazo et al., 2002) |
antibacterial (Erazo et al., 2002) |
B. conferta Kunth |
ME |
“quauhizquiztli” (Mexico). |
for stomach-ache, laxative, stornutatory, for baldness, for insect bites (Heinrich, 1996) |
spasmolytic, antibacterial (Verdi et al., 2005) |
BacchariscoridifoliaDC. |
AR, BO, BR, PA, UR |
“ajenjo del campo”, “mío”, “mío-mío”, “neo-neo”, “neomo”, “nía”, “nío”, “niyo”, “ñío-ñío”, “romerillo” (Argentina); “mio-mio” (Brazil). |
digestive, sudorific (Amat, 1983) |
antiviral, allelochemical, antioxidant, citotoxic, insecticide (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis crispa Spreng. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
“carqueija”, “carqueja”, “carqueja crespa”, “carquejilla” (Argentina), “yaguareté-ka’á” (Paraguay). |
digestive, hepatoprotective, antispasmodic, against fever, antirrheumatic, antiseptic (Zardini, 1984) |
antibiotic (Gutkind et al., 1981) |
Baccharisdecussata (Klatt) Hieron. |
CO, EC, PE, VE |
“almanga”, “armanga”, “machimbí” (Colombia). |
antiinflammatory, for favouring scaring (in cows; Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
-- |
Baccharis douglasii DC. |
ME, US |
-- |
for treating sores and wounds (Boldt, 1989) |
-- |
Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. |
AR, BO, BR, PA, UR |
“caápé guasú”, “chilca”, “chilca-y”, “chilca mata ojo”, “suncho” (Argentina); “alecrim-de-vassoura”, “alecrim-do-campo”, “vassourinha” (Brazil). |
abortive (Iharlegui & Hurrell, 1992) |
-- |
BaccharisgaudichaudianaDC. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
“carqueja” (Argentina, Brazil). |
digestive, hepatoprotective, antiseptic (Zardini, 1984) |
citotoxic (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharisgenistelloides(Lam.) Pers. |
BO, CH, CO, EC, PE |
“charara”, “jatun kimsa kuchu”, “nuchu-kuchu”, “quimsa-kuchu”, “tres espigas” (Bolivia); “chilca” (Colombia); “cuchu-cuchu”, “muqu-muqu”, “nudo-nudo”, “qimsa-kuchu” (Peru). |
astringent, diuretic, antirrheumatic, for paludism, for gonorrhea, for chest-ache, for stomach-ache (Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
antiviral, gastroprotective (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis genistifolia DC. |
AR, BR, UR |
-- |
antispasmodic (Zardini, 1984) |
-- |
Baccharisgrisebachii Hieron. |
AR, BO |
“chilca mamil”, “quinchamal”, “quinchamalí”, “romerillo”, “tancha” (Argentina). |
for treating wounds (Zardini, 1984) |
antimicrobial, citotoxic, protein synthesis (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharisheterophylla Kunth |
GU, ME |
-- |
for gastrointestinal disorders (Rojas et al., 1999) |
antimicrobial, spasmolytic (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis illinita DC. |
BR, PA |
-- |
for gastric disorders (Baggio et al., 2003) |
gastroprotective (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. |
AR, BO, CO, EC, PE, VE |
“chilca” (Argentina); “aurauchu”, “yurak-chilka” (Bolivia); “algodoncillo”, “buéntsamo”, “buétsemo”, “chilca”, “chilca blanca”, “chilca negra”, “chilca rucia”, “chilco”, “chilco blanco”, “chilco negro”, “chilquilla negra teñidora”, “chirca”, “chirco”, “gurrubo” (Colombia); “chilca”, “chilca negra”, “chiza”, “yana chilca” (Ecuador); “chilka” (Peru); “botonera”, “niquitao” (Venezuela). |
tonic, antidiabetic, antirrheumatic, vulnerary, emolient, disinfectant, for diarrhoea, for inflammation, for pulmonar affections (Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
-- |
Baccharis linearis(Ruíz & Pav.) Pers. Molina linearis Ruiz & Pav.; Baccharis rosmarinifolia Hook. & Arn.; B. lingulata Less.; B. linifolia Meyen; B. rosmarinifolia var. subsinuata DC.; B. callistemoides Walp.; B. subandina Phil.; B. rosmarinifolia var. callistemoides (Walp.) Heering; B. rosmarinifolia var. subandina (Phil.) Heering; B. holmbergii Hicken |
AR, CH |
“romerillo” (Argentina). |
for arterial blood, for pyorrhea (San Martín, 1983) |
insect repelent, allelopathic, citotoxic, antifeedant (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis megapotamica Spreng. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
-- |
potentially medicinal |
allelochemical, cerebral toxicity, antileukemic, antibiotic, antiinflammatory, analgesic (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis microcephala (Less.) DC. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
“carqueija”, “carqueja” (Argentina); “carqueja”, “cambará” (Brazil), “yaguareté-ka’á” (Paraguay). |
digestive, hepatoprotective, antiseptic (Zardini, 1984) |
-- |
Baccharis multiflora Kunth |
ME |
-- |
against catarrhs, for urinary problems (Heinrich, 1996) |
-- |
Baccharis nitida (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. |
BO, CO, EC, PE, VE |
“chilca blanca”, “chilco blanco”, “chilco negro”, “chilquilla arenilla”, “espadero”, “humadero” (Colombia). |
for cough, for bronchitis, for pulmonar affections (Girault, 1987) |
-- |
Baccharis notosergila Griseb. |
AR, BR, PA, UR |
“carqueija”, “carqueja” (Argentina). |
antirrheumatic (Zardini, 1984) |
antibiotic (Gutkind et al., 1981) |
Baccharis odorata Kunth |
CO, PE |
-- |
for influenza, for colds, for bone fractures and dislocations (Girault, 1987) |
-- |
Baccharis pedunculata (Mill.) Cabrera |
AN, BO, CO, CR, EC, GU, HO, ME, NI, PN, PE, VE |
“chilca”, “chilca teñidora” (Colombia). |
potentially medicinal |
antifungal (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis pentlandii DC. |
BO, PE |
-- |
antirrheumatic, antiseptic, disinfectant, for cough, for pneumonia, for sprains, for bone fractures and dislocations (Girault, 1987) |
gastroprotective, antiviral (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis pilularis DC. |
ME, US |
“coyote brush” (US). |
for treating hay fever, sinusitis, frontal headaches, to prevent baldness, as a female hygienic agent (Harding-Barlow, ined.) |
-- |
Baccharis salicifolia(Ruíz & Pav.) Pers. |
US, Central and South America |
“chilca”, “chilca amarga”, “chilca blanca”, “chilca dulce”, “chilca hû”, “chirca”, “jarilla”, “jarilla del río”, “junco”, “romerillo”, “suncho”, “vara dulce”, “yuno” (Argentina); “chilca” (Bolivia); “chilca”, “chilco” (Colombia); “axixtlacotl” (Mexico); “chilca” (Peru); “mulefat”, “seep willow”, “water wally” (US). |
diuretic, against fevers, diaphoretic, for headache, for inflammation, for diarrhoea, for dysentery (Heinrich, 1996) |
-- |
Baccharis sarothroides A. Gray |
ME, US |
“desert broom” (US). |
for colds, for relieving sore muscles (Heinrich, 1996) |
citotoxic (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis scandens (Ruíz & Pav.) Pers. |
AR, CH, PE |
“chascoma”, “chilca”, “chilca dulce”, “fía mate”, “palo blanco”, “suncho blanco” (Argentina). |
laxative, expectorant, for bronchitis, for pulmonar affections (Girault, 1987) |
-- |
Baccharis serrifolia DC. |
GU, HO, ME, NI |
-- |
for gastrointestinal illnesses (Heinrich, 1996) |
antispasmodic (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis teindalensis Kunth |
CO, EC |
-- |
antiinflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial (Vidari et al., 2003) |
antiviral (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis tola Phil. |
AR, BO, CH, PE |
“baila buen”, “lejía”, “tola”, “tola lejía” (Argentina). |
medicinal (Pérez-García et al., 2001) |
protein synthesis, antibacterial, antiinflammatory (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis tricuneata (L. f.) Pers. |
BO, CO, EC, PE, VE |
“china-thula”, “chilka”, “hirwa-kowa” (Bolivia); “anisillo”, “sanalotodo” (Colombia); “tayanqa” (Peru); “chilca”, “sanalotodo” (Venezuela). |
vulnerary, antidiabetic, antianemic, antirrheumatic, antiseptic, disinfectant, for wounds, for headache, for bronchitis (Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
-- |
Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. |
AR, BR, BO, PA, PE, UR |
“carqueja” (Argentina, Brazil); “nuchu-kuchu”, “quimsa-kuchu” (Bolivia), “yaguareté-ka’á” (Paraguay). |
for renal affections, for varix (Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
vasorelaxant, moluscicide, antimutagenic, hepatoprotective (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis trinervis Pers. |
AR, BO, BR, CO, EC, GU, HO, ME, NI, PA, PE, PN, UR, VE |
“chiñi kimsa kuchu” (Bolivia); “árnica”, “barzalito”, “barzalito de monte”, “chaparral de bestia”, “chilca”, “chilquita”, “chipolo”, “gavilana”, “lengua de gato”, “machucha”, “mandaguasca”, “marucha”, “varejón” (Colombia); “alcotan” (Ecuador); “Santa María” (Panama); “canaciche”, “chilquita”, “niquitaíto” (Venezuela). |
antihemorrhoidal, antiinflammatory, antirrheumatic, for waist-ache, for jaundice, for male sexual impotence, for female sterility (Correa & Yesid Bernal, 1990) |
antiviral, antiinflammatory, antioxidant (Verdi et al., 2005) |
Baccharis vaccinioides Kunth |
ES, GU, HO, ME |
-- |
for gastrointestinal disorders (Heinrich, 1996) |
-- |
Baccharis wrightii A.Gray |
ME |
-- |
for head disorders emetic (Boldt, 1989) |
-- |