Bur Marigold

Generic name: Bidens Pilosa, Bidens Tripartita L.
Brand names: 3-lobe Beggar Ticks, Amor-de-mulher, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Hemp, Beggarticks, Bur (or Burr) Marigold, Hairy Beggar-ticks, Kosendangusa, Lumb, Needle Grass, Pica-pica, Picao-preto, Spanish Needles, Sticktights, Water Agrimony, Water Hemp

Usage of Bur Marigold

Anti-inflammatory activity

Animal and in vitro data

Studies using rodent models of induced pain showed antinociceptive properties of extracts of B. pilosa, Bidens bipinnata, and B. tripartita. Similarly, anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated in models of acute inflammation and suggested to be due to the presence of flavonoids.(Fotso 2014, Pozharitskaya 2010, Shen 2015) Older studies report anti-inflammatory properties of B. bipinnata and Bidens campylotheca.(Wang 1997, Redl 1994) In vitro studies report that B. bipinnata and Bidens frondosa flavonoids inhibit inflammatory cytokines.(Abajo 2004, Bo 2012, Le 2015) Other studies report B. pilosa extracts inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells.(Matsumoto 2009)

Antimicrobial and antiviral activity

Animal and in vitro data

The Bidens genus is associated with antimicrobial activity. Screening studies with B. pilosa extracts and essential oils have demonstrated widespread activity against various microbes, including oral, urinary, vaginal, and water-borne diarrhea-causing pathogens.(Adedapo 2011, Chiavari-Frederico 2020, Njume 2016, Silva 2014) In urine and vaginal secretions collected from postmenopausal women, B. pilosa crude extract exhibited high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 13 to 26 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, and a MIC over 100 mg/mL against Escherichia coli. Similarly, in samples collected from postmenopausal women with a diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), respective MICs for the extract against urine coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, E. coli, and Proteus mirabilis were 38, 59, and 167 mg/mL, while those against vaginal coagulase-negative and -positive staph, P. mirabilis, and E. coli were 38, 78, 94, and 103 mg/mL. More than 50% of strains from women with recurrent UTIs were multidrug resistant.(Chiavari-Frederico 2020) However, activity of the majority of B. pilosa leaf extracts against water-borne diarrhea-causing organisms exhibited much lower MICs that were less than 1 mg/mL for Shigella boydii, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, E. coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Importantly, the extracts were also found to be highly active against probiotic strains with all solvent-extract samples demonstrating MICs less than 1 mg/mL.(Shandukani 2018)

Data regarding activity against fungal species are limited and equivocal(Bartolome 2013, Khan 2001); however, one study reported that cytopiloyne, a polyacetylenic glucoside from B. pilosa, enhanced macrophage activity against Candida infection in mice.(Chung 2016)

In vitro antiviral activity against herpes simplex and polio virus has also been reported with extracts of several Bidens spp.(Chiang 2003, Visintini Jaime 2013) In one study, treatment with an oral B. pilosa extract increased survival and decreased development of skin infections in mice infected with herpes simplex virus.(Nakama 2012)

Activity against protozoan parasites (including Plasmodium, Toxoplasma gondii, and Eimeria spp.) has been reported, with increased survival and decreased parasitemia demonstrated in animal studies.(Andrade-Neto 2004, Brandão 1997, Chang 2016, Chang 2016, Mota 2019, Oliveira 2004, Yang 2019) In vitro studies have demonstrated activity additionally against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania species with the crude extract showing strong and moderate activity, respectively.(Ohashi 2018)

Cancer

Animal and in vitro data

Limited animal and multiple in vitro studies demonstrate potential cytotoxic activity of extracts of B. pilosa and other Bidens spp., with some studies suggesting activity related to polyyne content. Human cancer cell lines, including colon, oral, liver, breast, cervical, and leukemia have been studied.(Chen 2015, Costa Rde 2008, Huang 2014, Kumari 2009, Nakama 2011, Ong 2008, Shiau 2015, Wu 2004, Wu 2013, Yang 2015)

Cardiovascular activity

Animal and in vitro data

In an in vitro study evaluating the effects of B. pilosa extracts on endothelial cells, B. pilosa inhibited reactive oxygen species production and enhanced nitric oxide production, suggesting benefit in maintaining vascular homeostasis.(Kohda 2013) In a series of studies in rats, B. pilosa extract exerted a hypotensive effect; researchers suggested that in addition to vasodilatory actions, B. pilosa may possess smooth muscle relaxant properties, possibly resulting from its calcium antagonist action and beta receptor stimulation.(Dimo 2003, Dimo 2001, Dimo 2002, Nguelefack 2005)

Diabetes

Animal data

In a series of experimental studies in mice, the butanol fraction of a B. pilosa extract prevented the development of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice models; researchers suggested that T-cell modulation by the chemical constituent cytopiloyne was involved.(Chang 2007, Chiang 2004, Chiang 2007, Chien 2009) Further study demonstrated that B. pilosa extract improved glucose tolerance, decreased glycosolated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, and protected islet structure in mice, possibly via stimulation of insulin secretion.(Hsu 2009) In a study to identify and evaluate the subextracts of B. tripartita, ethyl acetate and n-butanol subextracts had the greatest antihyperglycemic effects in normal and diabetic rats; ethyl acetate subextracts had higher levels of phenol, chlorogenic acid, and luteolin.(Orhan 2016) Another study evaluated the antiobesity effect of B. pilosa and verified that B. pilosa effectively reduced fat content, adipocyte size, and body weight in rodents.(Liang 2016)

Clinical data

B. pilosa has traditionally been used as an antidiabetic herb in the Americas, Africa, and Asia; however, clinical studies are lacking to support this use.(Yang 2014) In a small pilot study, a B. pilosa extract reduced the level of fasting blood glucose and HbA1C in men with hyperglycemia, but it increased fasting serum insulin in healthy patients over 90 days.(Lai 2015)

GI effects

Animal data

The antiulcerogenic activity of bur marigold extracts has been studied in rodents, with equivocal findings. While increased GI mucous production was demonstrated in some experiments, a protective effect on induced gastric lesions was demonstrated in most reported studies.(Alarcón de la Lastra 1994, Alarcón de la Lastra 1997, Alvarez 1999, Horiuchi 2010, Martín Calero 1996, Tan 2000) A relaxant effect on vascular smooth muscle and contractile tissues of the duodenum has also been documented in rodent studies.(Atta 2005, Frida 2007) In a rat model of colitis, administration of B. pilosa methanolic extract significantly improved macroscopic and histologic colonic damage, colonic oxidative stress markers (ie, MDA, glutathione, myeloperoxidase, leukocyte infiltration), as well as colonic TNF-alpha levels.(Abiodun 2020)

Neurodegeneration

Animal data

Learning and memory was improved in aged rats administered an ethanol extract of B. pilosa compared to control aged rats, with no significant difference in memory improvement compared to control young rats.(Wang 2019)

In a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, oral administration of B. pilosa var. radiata grown on the Miyako Islands without agricultural chemicals (Musashino Miyako BP) significantly improved survival time (by 13.5 days; P=0.004) and motor performance (P<0.001) compared to untreated controls. The mechanism involved a suppression of spinal motor neuron degeneration.(Kosuge 2020)

Other uses

Antioxidant activity of Bidens spp. extracts has been reported,(Abajo 2004, Chiang 2004, Lee 2013, Shandukani 2018, Yang 2006) and may account for the hepatoprotective(Abdel-Ghany 2016, Chin 1996, Kviecinski 2016, Pegoraro 2021, Yuan 2008, Yuan 2008) and nephroprotective effects demonstrated in rodent studies. The latter were observed for an aqueous preparation given as either a tea or topical bath.(Pegoraro 2021)

One in vitro study demonstrated a protective effect of B. pilosa extract on collagen and elastin degradation that was closely related to an increase in the expression of growth factors.(Dieamant 2015) Hair growth activity was also demonstrated with an ethyl acetate extract of B. pilosa and one of its fractions with mechanisms likely related to stimulation of dermal proliferative cells.(Hughes 2020)

Bur Marigold side effects

Clinical data regarding adverse effects of bur marigold are lacking; however, a small clinical study reported no adverse effects following administration of a B. pilosa formulation for 90 days.(Lai 2015) Cross-sensitivity to other members of the Asteraceae family may exist.

Before taking Bur Marigold

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation is lacking. B. pilosa leaf extract has traditionally been used to enhance myometrial contractile activity during labor, and in vitro studies report estrogenic-like and oxytocic-like activities on rodent uterine muscle tissue.(Frida 2007)

How to use Bur Marigold

Clinical studies are lacking to provide dosing recommendations.

Warnings

Animal studies suggest that short-term consumption of B. pilosa aqueous extract is safe; daily doses of up to 1 g/kg body weight for 28 days in rats did not produce adverse effects. Clinical data in humans are limited, especially regarding long-term toxicity.(Bartolome 2013, Yang 2014)

What other drugs will affect Bur Marigold

None well documented.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords