Extracts of Bidens pilosa appearance antimalarial action both in vitro and in vivo. The awkward booze extract (50 μg/ml) causes up to 90% inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum advance in vitro, compared with 86–94% inhibition for the chloroform atom and 68–79% for the butanol atom (both at 50 μg/ml). In vivo the awkward booze extract and the chloroform atom could cause about 40% abridgement of Plasmodium berghei parasitaemia in mice. Phenylacetylenes and flavonoids accept been found in the booze extract from the leaves and the roots. The above basic of the chloroform fractions from the roots was the phenylacetylene 1-phenylhepta-1,3-diyne-5-en-7-ol-acetate. The after-effects announce that the antimalarial action of Bidens pilosa may be attributed to the attendance of acetylene compounds. The absolute ameliorative account of these compounds seems limited, back they are calmly breakable by air and light.
Polyacetylenes aswell accept antimicrobial activity. A amount of polyacetylenes, e.g. phenylhepta-1,3,5-triyne from petroleum ether and methanol/water extracts of Bidens pilosa are baneful to yeasts and some bacteria. This admixture is an alive antiparasitic and apparent apparent insecticidal action with LC50 of 204 ng/cm2 for the aboriginal instar larvae of the abatement army bastard (Spodoptera frugiperda).
The polyacetylene 7-phenylhepta-2,4,6-triyne in aggregate with ablaze is appear to be phytotoxic to fibroblast cells. Consumption of the leaves, as in South Africa, has been found to advance the development of oesophageal cancer, and broiled leaves of Bidens pilosa accept a co-carcinogenic action for oesophageal tumours induced in rats.
In accession to the acetylenes, added compounds such as phytosterols (β-sitosterol), triterpenes (friedelin and friedelan-3β-ol) and caffeic acid(s) are aswell appear from Bidens pilosa. The essential flavonoids from leaf extracts are aurones and chalcones. Back friedelin and friedelan-3β-ol, as able-bodied as several flavonoids accept anti-inflammatory properties, their apprehension in extracts from Bidens pilosa, calm with the attendance of the declared acetylenes, may explain the use of Bidens pilosa in acceptable medicine, abnormally for alleviative wounds, adjoin inflammations and adjoin bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract.
The ethanolic extract of Bidens pilosa showed a top inhibition of prostaglandin amalgam in an in vitro appraisal for cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. The booze extract showed radio-protective action for cartilage marrow. Besides the above-mentioned pharmacological activity, antihyperglycaemic, immunomodulator, anti-ulcer and hypotensive action are reported.