Baccharis trimera is a native medicinal plant from South America popularly known as “carqueja”. Its infusion is traditionally ingested for the treatment and prevention of hepatic disorders. Up to now, only the crude aqueous extract or hydroethanolic fractions, containing the secondary metabolites, have been studied and correlated with their biological action on the liver. Here we report that an inulin type fructan is present in the B. trimera infusion and contributes to the hepatoprotective effect of the species. In vitro, inulin at 300 μg/mL, was able to scavenger 97% of the DPPH radicals. In vivo experiments showed that it protected the liver against CCl₄-induced injuries. The administration of inulin at low dose of 1 mg/kg significantly reduced the blood levels of ALT, AST and ALP, reduced the lipid peroxidation and increased the catalase activity and the levels of reduced glutathione in the liver of CCl₄-treated mice. Moreover, the administration of inulin at 100 mg/kg increased GSH levels in the liver of Naïve mice. No signs of toxicity were observed. Thus, inulin present in B. trimera infusion protects the liver from the oxidative stress caused by CCl₄ administration and can corroborate with the hepatoprotective effects presented by the species infusion.

Baccharis trimera是来自南美的本地药用植物，俗称“ carqueja”。传统上会摄取其输注液，以治疗和预防肝病。迄今为止，仅研究了含有次级代谢产物的粗制水提取物或氢乙醇馏分，并将其与它们对肝脏的生物学作用相关联。在这里我们报告菊粉型果聚糖存在于B.trimer输注中，并有助于该物种的保肝作用。在体外，菊粉300μg/ mL能够清除97％的DPPH自由基。体内实验表明，它可以保护肝脏免受CCl _4的侵害引起的伤害。以1 mg / kg的低剂量给予菊粉可显着降低CCl ₄处理小鼠肝脏中的ALT，AST和ALP血液水平，降低脂质过氧化作用并提高过氧化氢酶活性和降低的谷胱甘肽水平。此外，以100 mg / kg的剂量服用菊粉可提高幼稚小鼠肝脏GSH的水平。没有观察到毒性迹象。因此，存在于三叶草输注液中的菊粉可保护肝脏免受CCl ₄给药引起的氧化应激，并可以证实该种输注液对肝脏的保护作用。