beggar's tick
Bidens pilosa · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (442 studies) · ★★★★★
Beggar's tick, scientifically known as Bidens pilosa, is a versatile medicinal herb widely used in traditional medicine. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, this plant plays a crucial role in treating various ailments, including skin infections, digestive issues, and fever, across numerous global cultures.
Names
Common Names
- hairy beggarticks
- Black-Jack
- Spanish-needles
- beggar-ticks
- cobblers'-pegs
- hairy beggar-ticks
- hairy bidens
- Cobblers' Pegs
- Common Black Jack
- New Zealand cow-itch
- Widowers
- blackjack
- cobbler's peg
- cobbler's pegs
- Beggar's tick
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Acetillo
- Amor seco
- Arponcito
- Asta de cabra
- Bidente piloso
- Masquia
- Papunga chipaca
- Pega-pega
- Sirvulaca
- bidente piloso
- mozote
- Amor seco
- Cadillo
- Masiquía
- acahual blanco
- chipaca
- Acetillo
German:
- Behaarter Zweizahn
- Zweizahn
- Behaarter Zweizahn
French:
- bident pileux
- bident poilu
- bident hérissé
- herbe d'aiguille
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Bidens pilosaSynonyms
- Kerneria pilosa
- Bidens pilosa var. minor
- Coreopsis multifida var. mutica
- Cosmea pilosa
- Bidens pilosa f. minor
- Bidens pilosa f. calcicola
- Ceratocephalus pilosus
- Bidens pilosa f. subsimplicifolia
- Bidens pilosa f. bimucronata
- Bidens pilosa f. scandicina
- Bidens pilosa f. monophylla
- Bidens pilosa f. simplex
- Bidens pilosa f. triaristata
- Bidens pilosa f. dondiifolia
- Bidens pilosa f. umbrosa
- Coreopsis odorata
- Bidens africana
- Bidens arenaria
- Bidens aurantiaca
- Bidens californica
- Bidens caracasana
- Bidens bimucronata
- Bidens hirta
- Bidens paleacea
- Kerneria dubia
- Glossogyne chinensis
- Coreopsis corymbifolia
- Bidens pilosa f. indivisa
- Bidens rosea var. calcicola
- Bidens pilosa var. subbiternata
- Bidens reflexa
- Bidens ododrata
- Bidens pilosa f. odorata
- Bidens chilensis
- Bidens sundaica var. minor
- Bidens alausensis
- Bidens hispida
- Bidens chilensis var. apiifolia
- Bidens pilosa var. apiifolia
- Bidens pilosa var. bimucronata
- Bidens pilosa var. dubia
- Bidens pilosa var. brevifoliata
- Bidens striata
- Bidens sundaica
- Bidens taquetii
- Bidens valparadisiaca
- Bidens viciosoi
- Bidens odorata var. calcicola
- Bidens montaubani
- Bidens orendainae
- Bidens pilosa var. calcicola
- Bidens abadiae var. pilosoides
- Bidens leucanthema var. pilosa
- Bidens pilosa f. ternata
- Bidens pilosa f. pilosior
- Bidens pilosa f. subbiternata
- Bidens pilosa f. alausensis
- Bidens leucanthema var. sundaica
- Bidens pilosa var. alausesis
- Bidens tripartita subsp. hirta
- Bidens ciliata
- Bidens pilosa var. kraussii
- Bidens odorata
- Bidens adhaerescens
- Bidens pilosa f. dissecta
- Bidens pilosa f. pinnata
- Bidens barrancae
- Bidens abadiae
- Bidens scandicina
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 |
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.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Scientific reports (and other 9 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| stem | Parasites, hosts and diseases (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flower | Parasites, hosts and diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Bidens pilosa has 107 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoid, Phenols.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 12 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| Saponins | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Tannins | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Phenols | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| linoleic acid | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CALCIUM | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROGENIC ACID | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COPPER | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytopiloyne | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Journal of pharmaceutical investigation
- Acta tropica
- Pharmaceutical biology
- Planta medica
View 7 additional sources
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- F1000Research
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- Pharmaceutics
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
- BMC complementary and alternative medicine
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
Saponins
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- F1000Research
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
Tannins
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- F1000Research
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
Flavonoid
- Food chemistry
- Cells
- Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Phenols
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Parasites, hosts and diseases
- F1000Research
linoleic acid
- Dr. Duke
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
CALCIUM
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
- Biological trace element research
CHLOROGENIC ACID
- Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
- Scientific reports
COPPER
- Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
- Biological trace element research
Cytopiloyne
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Activities
Bidens pilosa has 170 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic, Anticancer.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiseptic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bidens pilosa has 52 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, hypertension, malaria, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | Cells (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | Natural products and bioprospecting (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Journal of parasitology research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus subtilis | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chagas disease | Parasites, hosts and diseases (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Enterococcus faecalis | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leishmaniasis | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extracts | Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | Journal of parasitology research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aqueous extracts | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BPE | Fish & shellfish immunology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bidens pilosa infusion | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CHCl3 extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extract | Anticancer research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Heptonica | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hexane extract of its leaves | Saudi journal of biological sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |