Abstract
From the crude ethyl acetate extract of the epigeous parts of Baccharis trimera Less. (Compositae, tribe Astereae) 5 flavonoids were isolated and identified: Quercetin
(1), luteolin (2), nepetin or eupafolin (3), apigenin (4), and hispidulin (5). Antihepatotoxic activity was investigated in mice intoxicated with phalloidin.
The crude flavonoid extract administered intravenously in a dose of approximately
20 mg/kg 1 h before intoxication increased the survival rate from 25% to 100%. The
most active of the pure components was hispidulin (32 mg/kg) ameliorating survival
rate to 80%. A mixture of all 5 flavonoids in equal weight relations (final dose:
35 mg/kg) increased the survival rate to 70%. The efficacy of the crude extract seems
to be explained to a large extent by the identified compounds.
