Baccharis rufescens Spreng. var. tenuifolia (DC.) Baker belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is used for liver and stomach problems in traditional medicine. Previous phytochemical data reported flavonoid and triterpene contents. Chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaves showed activity in the bioassay of brine shrimp. Chloroform extracts showed the presence of peroxides that can be used to treat malaria (Schenkel et al., 2002; Montanher et al., 2002; Moreira et al., 2003). Considering the pharmacological importance of B. rufescens var. tenuifolia, the purpose of this paper was to perform the anatomical analysis of aerial vegetative parts of Baccharis rufescens var. tenuifolia in order to provide pharmacognostic data for quality control. The plant material was studied by the usual methods of light and scanning electron microscopy. Amphistomatic leaves, anomocytic stomata, biseriate capitate glandular trichomes, uniseriate simple flagelliform non-glandular trichomes, secretory ducts associated to the phloem, perivascular fiber cap, calcium oxalate as prismatic and styloid crystals in the pith of the stem were reported as the mainly anatomical data for B. rufescens var. tenuifolia.Ouvir Ler foneticamente
Asteraceae; Baccharis; Baccharis rufescens var. tenuifolia; pharmacognosy
