This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
How does Picao Preto work as an antimalarial herb?
Bidens pilosa contains polyacetylenes and flavonoids that demonstrate antimalarial activity in laboratory studies. These compounds appear to interfere with Plasmodium parasite development, though the precise mechanism requires further investigation. Evidence level C indicates promising but limited clinical data. Traditional use across tropical regions supports its application for malaria support, but it should not replace conventional antimalarial treatment without medical supervision.
Does Picao Preto interact with diabetes medications?
Picao Preto may lower blood glucose levels, potentially enhancing the effects of antidiabetic medications like metformin or insulin. This combination could cause hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar). Evidence level C suggests caution is warranted. Individuals taking diabetes medications should consult a healthcare provider before using Bidens pilosa, as medication adjustments may be necessary.
What is the recommended dosage for Picao Preto?
Traditional adult dosages include drinking 2-3 cups of Picao Preto herb tea daily, or taking 500mg of standardized extract twice daily. Evidence level C means optimal dosing lacks robust clinical validation. Dosage should be adjusted based on individual response and the specific condition being addressed. Consult a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.
Is Picao Preto safe to take during pregnancy?
Picao Preto (Bidens pilosa) is considered unsafe during pregnancy and is contraindicated for pregnant women. Traditional evidence and pharmacological data suggest potential uterine-stimulating effects that could risk pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should avoid this herb entirely. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for safe alternatives for managing health concerns during pregnancy.
What are the traditional uses of Picao Preto?
Picao Preto has been used traditionally across Africa, Asia, and the Americas for treating malaria, digestive disorders, diabetes, and promoting wound healing. Its broad application stems from anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hypoglycemic properties attributed to compounds like quercetin, luteolin, and caffeic acid. Evidence level C supports these traditional uses, though more rigorous clinical trials are needed.
What are the side effects of Picao Preto?
Picao Preto may cause mild digestive effects such as stomach upset or diarrhea in some individuals. Allergic reactions, including skin rashes, are possible, particularly in sensitive individuals. Evidence level C indicates limited safety data. Discontinue use if adverse reactions occur. Those with known allergies to Asteraceae family plants should exercise caution, as cross-reactivity may occur.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Bidens pilosa is a cosmopolitan annual herb used traditionally for various ailments, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities [PMID:32226639, PMID:21270729].
Background
Bidens pilosa L. is an edible, widespread annual herb native to tropical America and naturalized across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas [PMID:21270729, PMID:38337889]. It is characterized as a noxious invasive weed in some regions and is also recognized as a hyperaccumulator for heavy metal-contaminated soil remediation [PMID:38337889, PMID:39303617].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used globally to treat a wide range of ailments, including inflammation, hemorrhoids, fever, gastric ulcers, and diseases associated with immune response disorders such as autoimmunity, cancer, allergies, and infectious diseases [PMID:32226639, PMID:32000263, PMID:37242733].
Active compounds
Major chemical constituents include polyacetylenes (e.g., 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-1-hydroxy-6-(E)-tetradecene-8,10,12-triyne), polyacetylene glycosides, flavonoids, flavone glycosides, aurones, chalcones (e.g., okanin glycosides), phenolic acids, terpenes, pheophytins, fatty acids, and phytosterols [PMID:35067120, PMID:32226639, PMID:17265204].
Mechanism of action
The herb modulates the immune response by inhibiting the upregulation of M1-microglia/macrophage markers (IFN-γR) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) while increasing IL-10 production [PMID:37762010, PMID:32000263]. It also exhibits antioxidant effects by reducing lipid peroxidation and restoring endogenous defenses such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) [PMID:41431509].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DIntestinal Inflammation
A fatty acid-standardized supercritical preparation ameliorated acute TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation in rats by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress [PMID:32000263]
Evidence DNeuropathic Pain
Miyako Bidens pilosa extract (MBP) significantly reduced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in mice with partial sciatic nerve ligation [PMID:40699852]
Evidence DAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Miyako Bidens pilosa extract inhibited microglial activation and prolonged the life span in SOD1G93A transgenic mice [PMID:37762010]
Evidence DType 2 Diabetes
A mixture of polyacetylenic glucosides (2-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-1-hydroxy-5(E)-tridecene-7,9,11-triyne and 3-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-1-hydroxy-6(E)-tetradecene-8,10,12-triyne) effected a significant drop in blood glucose in db/db mice [PMID:10705745]
Safety & adverse effects
A 24-week oral toxicity study in mice showed no significant adverse effects on mortality, organ weight, or hematology, although mice fed 10% BP showed significantly lower body weight and food intake compared to controls [PMID:32257878].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on preclinical animal models (mice, rats, chickens) and in vitro studies, with several comprehensive reviews summarizing its phytochemical and pharmacological potential. There is a lack of human clinical trial data.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 35067120 (2022) — Bioactive polyacetylenes from Bidens pilosa L and their anti-inflammatory activity. · Natural product research
2.PMID: 37762010 (2023) — Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Miyako Bidens pilosa in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV-2 Microglia. · International journal of molecular sciences
3.PMID: 32226639 (2016) — Chemistry and pharmacology of Bidens pilosa: an overview. · Journal of pharmaceutical investigation
5.PMID: 17265204 (1988) — New Chalcones from Bidens pilosa. · Planta medica
6.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
PMID: 37242733 (2023) — Immunomodulatory Properties of Natural Extracts and Compounds Derived from Bidens pilosa L.: Literature Review. · Pharmaceutics
7.PMID: 21270729 (2011) — Compilation of secondary metabolites from Bidens pilosa L. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 40699852 (2025) — Miyako Bidens pilosa Extract Ameliorates Allodynia and Suppresses Spinal Microglial Activation in Mice with Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation. · Current issues in molecular biology
10.PMID: 35669545 (2022) — A review on the potential of underutilized Blackjack (Biden Pilosa) naturally occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. · Heliyon
11.PMID: 32257878 (2020) — Toxicity study of Bidens pilosa in animals. · Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
12.PMID: 15587935 (2004) — Polyacetylenes function as anti-angiogenic agents. · Pharmaceutical research
13.PMID: 41431509 (2025) — Antioxidant Effects of Aqueous Bidens pilosa in Fructose-Fed Rats. · Cureus
14.PMID: 36918765 (2023) — Analysis of the chloroplast genome and phylogenetic evolution of Bidens pilosa. · BMC genomics
15.PMID: 37169915 (2023) — (E)-7-phenyl-2-heptene-4,6-diyn-1-ol from Bidens pilosa as a repellent against isopods. · Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
16.PMID: 36479862 (2023) — A comprehensive review on medicinal plants possessing antioxidant potential. · Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
17.PMID: 39303617 (2024) — Evidence that beneficial microbial inoculation enhances heavy metal-contaminated soil remediation: Variations in plant endophyte communities. · Journal of hazardous materials
18.PMID: 30417583 (2019) — Enzymes inhibitors from natural sources with antidiabetic activity: A review. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
19.PMID: 32510281 (2022) — Weed control by metabolites produced from Diaporthe schini. · Environmental technology
20.PMID: 24616740 (2014) — Botanical, Pharmacological, Phytochemical, and Toxicological Aspects of the Antidiabetic Plant Bidens pilosa L. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
21.PMID: 36339983 (2022) — Phytochemical study of the plant species Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) and Croton floccosus (Euphorbiaceae). · F1000Research
22.PMID: 37894572 (2023) — A Bidens pilosa L. Non-Polar Extract Modulates the Polarization of Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells into an Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
23.PMID: 38337889 (2024) — The Invasive Mechanisms of the Noxious Alien Plant Species Bidens pilosa. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
25.PMID: 37837780 (2024) — Proteomics-based analysis on the stress response mechanism of Bidens pilosa L. under cadmium exposure. · Journal of hazardous materials
26.PMID: 40836204 (2025) — Integrating network pharmacology and molecular modeling to decipher the anti-esophageal squamous cell carcinoma mechanisms of Bidens pilosa L. · Discover oncology
27.PMID: 36256954 (2023) — Investigation of Asymptomatic Infection of Phellinus noxius in Herbaceous Plants. · Phytopathology
28.PMID: 42318229 (2026) — Regulation of Nosema ceranae gene expression by Bidens pilosa phytogenic treatment in infected honey bees. · Frontiers in insect science
29.PMID: 40822453 (2025) — Exploring the phytochemical profile, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Bidens pilosa: A Systematic Review. · Frontiers in pharmacology