A Review of the Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Baccharis dracunculifolia.

Abstract

Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main botanical source of Brazilian green propolis, has gained prominence as a versatile medicinal species due to its rich profile of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids with recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review synthesizes experimental evidence on how different preparations of B. dracunculifolia, including hydroalcoholic, ethanolic, glycolic, methanolic, n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts, and essential oil, modulate redox balance, inflammatory, and immunomodulatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Emphasis is placed on metabolites such as caffeic and p-coumaric acids, artepillin C, baccharin, isosakuranetin, and nerolidol, which contribute to reactive oxygen species scavenging, preservation of mitochondrial function, reinforcement of endogenous antioxidant defenses, and inhibition of enzymes like myeloperoxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase oxidase, and cyclooxygenase-2. The impact of seasonality, plant part, solvent, and extraction technique on phytochemical composition and mechanisms of biological activity is presented in preclinical models of colitis, gastric ulcer, arthritis, hepatotoxicity, cardiometabolic syndrome, diabetes, and inflammatory skin diseases, in which treatment with extracts of B. dracunculifolia attenuates leukocyte recruitment, tissue edema, oxidative damage, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, B. dracunculifolia is a promising phytotherapeutic resource with potential applications ranging from complementary treatments for inflammatory and oxidative stress-related disorders.