Picão preto

(Bidens pilosa)

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Bidens
Species: pilosa
Synonyms: Bidens adhaerescens, B. alausensis, B. chilensis, B. hirsuta, B. leucantha, B. montaubani, B. reflexa, B. scandicina, B. sundaica, Coreopsis leucantha, Kerneria pilosa
Common Names: Picão preto, carrapicho, amor seco, pirca, aceitilla, cadillo, chilca, pacunga, cuambu, erva-picão, alfiler, clavelito de monte, romerillo, saltillo, yema de huevo, z’aiguille, jarongan, ketul, pau-pau pasir, Spanish needles, bident herisse, herbe d’aiguille, zweizahn, bidente piloso, mozote, beggar’s tick
Phytochemicals: aesculetin, behenic acid, beta-sitosterol, borneol, butanedioic acid, butoxylinoleates, cadinols, caffeine, caffeoylic acids, capric acid, daucosterol, elaidic acid, erythronic acids, friedelans, friedelins, germacrene D, glucopyranoses, glucopyranosides, inositol, isoquercitrin, lauric acid, limonene, linoleic acids, lupeol, luteolin, muurolol, myristic acid, okanin-glucosides, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, paracoumaric acids, phenylheptatriynes, phytenoic acid, phytol, pilosola A, polyacetylenes, precocene I, pyranoses, quercetin, sandaracopimaradiols, squalene, stigmasterols, tannic acid, tetrahydroxyaurones, tocopherolquinones, tridecapentaynenes, tridecatetrayndienes, and vanillic acid.
Parts Used: whole herb

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: kills bacteria kills viruses kills germs kills leukemia cells kills yeast reduces inflammation protects liver prevents ulcers inhibits stomach acid helps diabetes reduces spasms fights free radicals

Other Actions: dries secretions increases urination inhibits tumors lowers blood sugar promotes menstruation expels worms stimulates digestion

Standard Dosage: Whole herb. Decoction: 1/2 to 1 cup twice daily; Capsules: 2 g twice daily; Tincture: 2-3 ml twice daily.

Picão preto is a small, erect annual herb that grows to 1 m high. It is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of South America, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Philippines.

Picão preto is rich in flavonoids, terpenes, phenylpropanoids, lipids, and benzenoids. Even as early as 1979 and 1980, scientists demonstrated that specific chemicals found in the herb were toxic to bacteria and fungi. Many of the flavonoids in picão preto have been documented with antimalarial activity. In 1991, Swiss scientists isolated several known phytochemicals with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which led them to infer that the presence of these compounds "may rationalize the use of this plant in traditional medicine in the treatment of wounds, against inflammation and against bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract." New bioactive phytochemicals, discovered in 1996, showed activity against transformed human cell lines.

Picão preto has been the subject of recent clinical research that has supported many of its uses in herbal medicine. A research group in Taiwan reported that a picão preto extract was capable of protecting the liver from various introduced toxins known to cause liver injury. This research group had previously demonstrated picão preto's anti-inflammatory actions. In 1999, a Brazilian research group confirmed the anti-inflammatory activities iand attributed them to an immune modulation effect (noting the extract reduced the amount of pro-inflammatory immune cells in human blood in a previous study). In addition, other research demonstrated that a picão preto extract inhibited prostaglandin-synthesis and cyclooxygenase (COX) activities. Both are chemical processes in the body which are linked to inflammatory diseases (and provide the focus for newer "COX-inhibitor" classes of anti-inflammatory and arthritis pharmaceutical drugs).

Other areas of research have validated picão preto's traditional use for ulcers and diabetes. Extracts of the leaf (as well as the entire plant) have clinically shown to protect rats against chemical- and bacteria-induced gastric lesions and ulcers and, also, to reduce gastric acid secretion. The activity noted in these studies was higher than that shown by two prescription anti-ulcer drugs. Other studies have demonstrated that picão preto has hypoglycemic activity and is able to improve insulin sensitivity which validates its long history in herbal medicine for diabetes. Researchers (in 2000) attributed the plant's hypoglycemic properties to a group of glucoside chemicals found in the aerial parts of the plant. Picão preto was also documented to prevent hypertension, and to lower the resulting (elevated) blood pressure and triglyceride levels. A leaf extract was also shown to have smooth-muscle relaxant activity on the heart.

Picão preto has long been used in traditional medicine systems for infections of all kinds: from such upper respiratory tract infections as colds and flu to urinary tract infections and venereal diseases-and even infected wounds on the skin. Research has begun to confirm these uses in several in vitro microbial studies. In 1991, scientists in Egypt first documented picão preto's antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. Other in vitro studies have demonstrated its antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria including Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus, Neisseria gonorrhea, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella. Extracts of the leaf also have been documented to have antimycobacterial activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. smegmatis. A water extract of the leaf has shown significant anti-yeast activity towards Candida albicans. Much of picão preto's antimicrobial actions have been attributed to a group of chemicals called polyacetylenes, which includes a chemical called phenylheptatriyne. Phenylheptatriyne has shown strong in vitro activity against numerous human and animal viruses, bacteria, fungi, and molds in very small amounts.

In the tropics, picão preto is also used for snakebite and malaria; research has confirmed these uses as well. Several studies have confirmed the plant's antimalarial activity.

The last area of research has focused on picão preto's anticancerous possibilities. Early research, in various in vitro assay systems designed to predict antitumor activity, indicated positive results in the early 1990s. Picão preto first was reported to have antileukemic actions in 1995. Then researchers from Taiwan reported (in 2001) that a simple hot-water extract of picão preto could inhibit the growth of five strains of human and mouse leukemia at less than 200 mcg per ml in vitro. They summarized their research by saying that picão preto ". . . may prove to be a useful medicinal plant for treating leukemia."

Picão preto has a long history of use among the indigenous people of the Amazon, and virtually all parts of the plant are used. Generally the whole plant is uprooted and prepared in decoctions or infusions for internal use, and/or crushed into a paste or poultice for external use.

Following- up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses of the plant.

Region	Uses
Africa	for bleeding, blood clots, burns, cataracts, colitis, conjunctivitis, constipation, diarrhea, earache, eye disorders, food poisoning, hemorrhages, inflammation, malaria, pneumonia, postpartum hemorrhage, respiratory infections, rheumatism, sores, stomach pains, tuberculosis, worms, wounds, yaws, and as an antiseptic
Amazonia	for angina, chills, diabetes, dysentery, edema, eye disorders, headache, hepatitis, jaundice, laryngitis, malaria, menstrual disorders, parasites, sore mouth, sore throat, stomachache, toothache, urinary insufficiency, worms, wounds
Bahamas	for cancer, fever, heat-rash, itch, intestinal gas, lacerations, skin sores, water retention, wounds
Brazil	for breast engorgement, cough, diabetes, diaper rash, dysentery, fever, fungal infections, gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, hepatitis, inflammation, insect bites, jaundice, lactation aid, liver tonic, liver obstructions, lung disorders, malaria, parasites, pharyngitis, rheumatism, sclerosis (glands), scurvy, sore throat, toothache, tonsillitis, ulcers, urinary infections, urinary insufficiency, vaginal infections, vaginal discharge, wounds, and as an antiseptic, astringent
Dominican Republic	for chest problems, toothaches, and to promote milk production, salivation, urination and menstruation
Ghana	for allergies, bleeding, earaches, eye infections, hives
Haiti	for angina, catarrh, diabetes, foot-and-mouth disease, mental disorders, milk production, nervous shock, stomatitis, tonsilitis, vomiting
Mexico	for blood clots, chest problems, diabetes, fever, gastroenteritis, hemorrhoids, inflammation, jaundice, kidney, liver disorders, mouth blisters, nervous problems, snakebite, stomach problems, and as a antiseptic and diuretic
Panama	for colds, headache, intestinal disorders, prostate tumors, rheumatism
Peru	for abscesses, angina, anuria, baldness, bile stimulation, childbirth, chills, conjunctivitis, cystitis, diabetes, dysentery, edema, foot-and-mouth disease, fever, fungal infections, headache, hemorrhage, hepatitis, inflammation, jaundice, lacerations, laryngitis, liver problems, liver support, mouth sores, menstrual disorders, nephritis, nervous system disorders, pain, obesity, parasites, rheumatism, sores, sore throat, tonsilitis, toothache, urinary infections, urinary insufficiency, venereal diseases, weight loss, worms, wounds
Elsewhere	for abortions, bleeding, blood cleansing, boils, bronchitis, burns, cancer, candida, colds, colic, colitis, conjunctivitis, coughs, cuts, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, eye problems, fever, flatulence, flu, food poisoning, gout, hair loss, hepatitis, hyperglycemia, hypertension, inflammation, intestinal infections, liver diseases, menstrual promotion, parasites, respiratory infections, rheumatism, skin problems, snakebite, stomach disorders, styptic, sweat promotion, thrush, toothache, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, urinary infections, urinary problems, worms, wounds, and as an antiseptic, astringent, diuretic

PICÃO PRETO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	decoction or capsules
Main Actions (in order):	antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective (liver protector), antiulcerous, antidiabetic
Main Uses:	as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial for various internal and external infections (caused by virus, bacteria, yeast, fungi) to tone, balance, strengthen, protect, and detoxify the liver for arthritis, rheumatism, and other inflammatory conditions for diabetes for stomach ulcers and digestive disorders
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	anticandidal, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerous, antibacterial, anticoagulant (blood thinner), antifungal, antihepatotoxic (liver detoxifier), antileukemic, antimalarial, antioxidant, antitumorous, antivenin, antiviral, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), COX-inhibitor (typically reduces inflammation), gastroprotective (protects the gastric tract), hepatoprotective (liver protector), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver), hypoglycemic, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), immunomodulator (selectively modulates overactive immune cells), uterine stimulant
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	abortive, antidiabetic, antihemorrhagic (reduces bleeding), antiparasitic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, cough suppressant, astringent, bitter, carminative, diaphoretic (promotes sweating), diuretic, emollient, febrifuge (reduces fever), menstrual stimulant, stimulant, vermifuge (expels worms), wound healer
Traditional Preparation:	In the tropics, generally one cup of a standard decoction 1-3 times daily depending on the condition that is being treated. Two to three ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily or 2-3 g of powdered herb in tablets, capsules, or stirred into water (or juice) twice daily can be substituted, if desired.
Contraindications:	Do not use during pregnancy. This plant contains several coumarin derivatives. Coumarins are a group of chemicals that thin the blood. Those on blood thinning medications such as Warfarin® should use picão preto with caution and monitor these possible effects. Picão preto contains a small amount of naturally-occurring caffeine; it should not be used by those who are allergic or sensitive to caffeine. The plant has been documented to lower blood sugar levels in several animal studies. Those with hypoglycemia or diabetes should only use picão preto under the supervision of a qualified health care professional and monitor their blood sugar levels accordingly. Picão preto has been documented with hypotensive activity in several animal studies. People with heart conditions and those taking antihypertensive drugs should consult their doctors prior to using this plant to monitor these possible effects (as medications may need adjustment).
Drug Interactions:	It may potentiate the effects of antidiabetic, blood thinning, and high blood pressure drugs.

WARNINGS: Information, statements and products on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The natural properties of the botanicals are only referred to their common uses among folk and herbal traditions. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease as well. It's not meant to give any suggestion of diagnosis or disease treatment. Please see a doctor when needed.