Volatile Profile of the Baccharis Genus: A Narrative Review

Plants synthesize a wide range of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds and terpenoids, which play key ecological roles and have relevant agro-industrial applications. The genus Baccharis, belonging to the family Asteraceae, is highly abundant in South America, particularly in Brazil, and has long been used in traditional medicine, supporting its neotropical origin. Given the growing interest in the species that compose this genus and, in their metabolites, the present study aimed to compile a structured database to support the identification of volatile compounds occurring in Baccharis species. A total of 158 volatile compounds were identified across 15 species, most of which belong to the subgenus Baccharis. Eleven compounds were observed that may serve as chemotaxonomic markers for the genus. The species most extensively studied over the past decade were B. dracunculifolia and B. trimera. Altogether, these findings highlight the metabolic potential of the Baccharis genus and point to new prospects for pharmaceutical and agro-industrial applications.