Raintree Nutrition's Concentrated Carqueja Extract uses new and proprietary extraction methods to concentrate and preserve the active ingredients found in this wonderful
plant. Concentration and extraction methods provide the equivalent of 500 mg carqueja
leaf and stem (Baccharis genistelloides) per milliliter of extract. Carqueja is a rich
source of flavonoids. Certain flavonoids, such as silymarin in milk thistle, have shown
liver-protective properties and are used for many liver conditions in herbal medicine
systems.* Carqueja is rather like the South American version of milk thistle. It contains
up to 20% flavonoids, including quercetin, luteolin, nepetin, apigenin, and hispidulin. The
flavonoids are considered carqueja's main active constituents. Carqueja is a Brazilian
plant (cataloged by several botanical names including Baccharis genistelloides, B.
triptera, B. trinervis, and B. trimera). It has a long history of use as a natural digestive aid and liver-supporting
aid in Brazilian herbal medicine.* To learn more about this wonderful rainforest plant, go to theTropical Plant Database file on Carqueja. To see pictures of carqueja, click here.
Traditional Uses:* for digestive disorders (ulcers, gastroenteritis, acid reflux, and ileocecal valve disorders) and to slow digestion; to tone, balance, and strengthen liver function (also to eliminate liver flukes, increase liver bile and to remove toxins from the liver); for gallbladder disorders (stones, pain, lack of bile, sluggish action, toxin build-up); as a detoxifier (blood, liver, gallbladder, pancreas); for viral infections (stomach viruses, HIV, herpes simplex)
Ingredients: Carqueja whole herb (Baccharis genistelloides) extracted in distilled water and 40% ethanol.
Suggested Use: Take 60 drops (2 ml) 2 or more times daily, or as directed by a healthcare professional.
Contraindications:
Not to be used during pregnancy as carqueja has demonstrated uterine stimulant and abortive effects in rats.
The use of this plant is contraindicated in persons with low blood pressure due to its documented hypotensive effects.
Carqueja has been documented to lower blood glucose levels in human and animal studies. As such, it is contraindicated in persons with hypoglycemia. Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels more closely if they use carqueja.
Drug Interactions: None reported, however, it may increase the effect of diabetic and antihypertensive drugs.
Other Practitioner Observations:
Carqueja has demonstrated antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifying) effects in animal studies. As such, it may speed the clearance of some drugs metabolized in the liver (decrease the half-life), thereby reducing the pharmacological effect (and/or side effects) of certain drugs required to be metabolized in the liver.
A 2 ounce bottle is $21.95 each
Or buy 3 bottles for $20.95 each
Or buy 6 bottles for $18.95 each
Third-Party Published Research*
This Raintree product has not been the subject of any clinical research.
All available third-party research on carqueja can be found at PubMed/Medline.
A partial listing of the published research on carqueja is shown below:
Antacid & Anti-ulcer Actions: Gonzales, E., et al. “Gastric cytoprotection of Bolivian medicinal plants.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2000; 70(3):
329–33.
Gamberini, M. T., et al. “Açoes antiúlcera e antiácida do extracto aquoso e das fraçoes da Baccharis trimera.”
Anais XII Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil. UFP: Curitiba, Paraná, 15–17 September 1992.
Sousa, B., et al., “Avaliaçao da atividade antiulcera do extrato bruto e fraçoes de Baccharis trimera.” Anais XII
Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil. UFP: Curitiba, Paraná, 15–17 September 1992.
Gamberini, M. T., et al. “Inhibition of gastric secretion by a water extract from Baccharis triptera. Mart.” Mem.
Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86(Suppl. 2): 137-9.
Liver Protective & Detoxification Actions: Soicke, H., et al. “Characterisation of flavonoids from Baccharis trimera and their antihepatotoxic properties.”
Planta Med. 1987; 53(1): 37–9.
Anti-inflammatory, Muscle Relaxant, & Pain-Relieving Actions: Abad, M. J., et al. “Anti-inflammatory activity of four Bolivian Baccharis species (Compositae).” J.
Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Feb; 103(3): 338-44.
Coelho, M. G., et al. “Anti-arthritic effect and subacute toxicological evaluation of Baccharis genistelloides
aqueous extract.” Toxicol. Lett. 2004 1; 154(1-2): 69-80.
Hnatyszyn, O., et al. “Argentinian plant extracts with relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the corpus
cavernosum of guinea pig.” Phytomedicine. 2003 Nov; 10(8): 669-74.
Torres, L. M., et al. “Diterpene from Baccharis trimera with a relaxant effect on rat vascular smooth
muscle.” Phytochemistry. 2000 Nov; 55(6): 617-9.
Gene, R. M., et al. “Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Baccharis trimera: Identification of its active
constituents.” Planta. Med. 1996; 62(3): 232–5.
Gene, R. M., et al. “Anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extracts of three species of the genus Baccharis.”
Planta Med. 1992 Dec; 58(6): 565-6.
Antmicrobial Actions: Betoni, J., et al. "Synergism between plant extract and antimicrobial drugs used on Staphylococcus aureus diseases." Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 2006 Jun; 101(4): 387-90.
Sanchez Palomino, S., et al. “Screening of South American plants against human immunodeficiency virus:
preliminary fractionation of aqueous extract from Baccharis trinervis.” Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2002; 25(9):
1147-50.
Abad, M. J., et al. “Antiviral activity of Bolivian plant extracts.” Gen. Pharmacol. 1999; 32(4): 499–503.
Abad, M. J., et al. “Antiviral activity of some South American medicinal plants.” Phytother. Res. 1999 Mar;
13(2): 142-6.
Robinson, W. E., et al. “Inhibitors of HIV-1 replication that inhibit HIV Integrase.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
1996; 93(13): 6326–31.
Abdel-Malek, S., et al. “Drug leads from the Kallawaya herbalists of Bolivia. 1. Background, rationale,
protocol and anti-HIV activity.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 1996; 50(3): 157–66.
Hypoglycemic & Antidiabetic Actions: Dickel, M., et al. "Plants popularly used for loosing weight purposes in Porto Alegre, South Brazil. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan; 109(1): 60-71.
Oliveira, A. C., et al. “Effect of the extracts and fractions of Baccharis trimera and Syzygium cumini on
glycaemia of diabetic and non-diabetic mice.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Dec; 102(3): 465-9.
Hossen, S., et al. “Evaluacion in vivo de la actividad hipoglucemiante de plantas medicinales de los valles
altos y bajos de Cochabamba.” Ed. Universidad Mayor De San Simón Instituto de Investigaciones
Bioquímico-Farmacéuticas-Programa 2001; Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Alonso, P. E., et al. “Uso racional de las plantas medicinales.” Ed. Fin De Siglo Facultad de Química 1992;
Montevideo, Uruguay.
Xavier, A. A., et al. “Effect of an extract of Baccharis genistelloides on the glucose level of the blood.” C. R.
Seances Soc. Biol. Fil. 1967; 16(4): 972–4.
Antioxidant Actions: Simoes-Pires, C. A., et al. “Isolation and on-line identification of antioxidant compounds from three
Baccharis species by HPLC-UV-MS/MS with post-column derivatisation.” Phytochem. Anal. 2005 Sep-Oct;
16(5): 307-14.
Melo, S. F., et al. “Effect of the Cymbopogon citratus, Maytenus ilicifolia and Baccharis genistelloides
extracts against the stannous chloride oxidative damage in Escherichia coli.” Mutat. Res. 2001 Sep;
496(1-2): 33-8.
Sharp, H., et al. “6-Oxygenated flavones from Baccharis trinervis (Asteraceae).” Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 2001;
29(1): 105-107.
de las Heras, B., et al. “Antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity of plants used in traditional medicine in
Ecuador.” J. Ethnopharmacol. 1998 Jun; 61(2): 161-6.
Antivenin Actions: Januario, A. H., et al. “Neo-clerodane diterpenoid, a new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitor from Baccharis trimera (Asteraceae): anti-proteolytic and anti-hemorrhagic properties.” Chem. Biol. Interact.
2004 Dec 7; 150(3): 243-51.
RELATED PRODUCTS:
Carqueja can be found as an ingredient in these proprietary Raintree formulas:
Carqueja Tech Report -- A Technical Plant Data Report is available for carqueja.
* The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. Please refer to our Conditions of Use for this web site and product.
