Bidens pilosa
Beggar's tick
Bidens pilosa, commonly known as black-jack or Spanish needle, is a versatile medicinal herb widely used in traditional medicine. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, this resilient plant is frequently employed to treat wounds, skin infections, and various digestive ailments across diverse global cultures.
- Scientific name: Bidens pilosa
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Bidens, which includes the species Bidens pilosa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bidens | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bidens pilosa, is referred to by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Quechua, it is called P'irqa, while in Vietnamese, it is known as Xuuyến chi. It is identified in German as Behaarter Zweizahn, and in Nepali, it is called कालोकुरो. Additionally, in Japanese, the plant is commonly known as コセンダングサ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| qu | P'irqa | Wikidata |
| vi | Xuyến chi | Wikidata |
| de | Behaarter Zweizahn | Wikidata |
| ne | कालोकुरो | Wikidata |
| ja | コセンダングサ | Wikidata |
| to | Fisiʻuli | Wikidata |
| rw | Inyabarasanya | Wikidata |
| id | Ketul | Wikidata |
| ml | സ്നേഹക്കൂറ | Wikidata |
| zh | 三叶鬼针草 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, its presence is noted in Belgium, Germany, and Poland. Furthermore, the species extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically inhabiting the Baleares. This wide range demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to various European climates.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Greece | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Bidens pilosa, is a versatile medicinal herb where almost every component offers therapeutic potential. When preparing traditional remedies, practitioners often utilize the whole plant to capture its full spectrum of bioactive compounds. The aerial parts, which include everything above the ground, are commonly harvested for decoctions and infusions. Within these upper structures, the stems provide structural support and contain essential phytochemicals, while the leaves serve as the primary site for nutrient production and medicinal potency. Whether processed as a dried leaf or used in its entirety, the various components of Bidens pilosa contribute significantly to its recognized healing properties.- Total parts
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 23
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| whole plant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stems | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plants | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bidens pilosa has 86 reported phytochemicals identified across 118 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saponins, flavonoid, phenols, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 86
- Scientific sources
- 118
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| saponins | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| calcium | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorogenic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| copper | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Bidens pilosa has 17 reported activities identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 28
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiallergic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bidens pilosa has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 57 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, hypertension, malaria, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans.
- Total uses
- 52
- Scientific sources
- 57
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chagas disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterococcus faecalis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmaniasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |