Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.

Abstract

The producer of medicinal plants can be considered different from others because they need to know the whole steps from cultivation to harvest for each plant, including botanical identification, harvest time, temperature of drying, how to store and, in some cases, the medicinal purposes. Producers of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC., for example, must know its botanical characteristics in order to avoid problems of confusion with Baccharis coridifolia DC. (broom), which belongs to the same genus, but it is toxic. B. trimera, also known as “Carqueja”, is native from Brazil and is among the most important native medicinal plants of Brazil. Furthermore, B. trimera, has an ethnopharmacological importance for traditional people. It has many chemical compounds, and among the main are essential oils, sesquiterpene alcohols, resins, vitamins, tannins, flavonoids, lactones and saponin. Fresh or dehydrated B. trimera is marketed to produce phytotherapics, teas and is also used in the brewing industry, as well as replacement of hops for flavoring drinks, liqueurs and “cachaça”. However, there is only one cultivar of B. trimera, called “CPQBA-1”. Pioneering agronomic works done with it have shown promising results to cultivate it in the field, but still further studies are needed to ensure the quality and quantity of material.