BackgroundWild plant species serve as significant models for evaluating the effects of anthropogenic activities on terrestrial ecosystems. In recent years, phytoremediation has garnered significant attention as a sustainable approach to remediate metal-contaminated soils, due to its ability to maintain soil structure while facilitating potential metal recovery. This study assessed the phytoremediation capabilities of seven indigenous wild plant species in soils impacted by phosphate mining operations.MethodsMetal concentrations in soil and plant samples were measured by atomic spectroscopy. Ten biologically distinct rhizosphere soil samples were collected for each of the seven wild plant species; each biological replicate was made up of pooled material from five individual plants. The effectiveness of phytoremediation was evaluated by computing the Biological Accumulation Coefficient (BAC), Bioaccumulation Factor (BF), Element Accumulation Index (EAI), and Translocation Factor (TF) for selected trace metals.Results and discussionMetal bioavailability was significantly associated with soil pH and organic matter content. The concentration of soil macronutrients was low. The bioconcentration factor exceeded one for most tested elements. Mn and Zn in Bidens pilosa and Conyza bonariensis were the sole exceptions. All metals except Mn had biological accumulation coefficients greater than 1. TF values suggested variable translocation potential among the studied plant species.ConclusionThe results indicate that the examined native plant species can tolerate elevated metal concentrations and sequester them, thereby endorsing their potential application in the remediation of phosphate-mining-affected metal-contaminated soils.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-026-08832-z.

The Bidens pilosa extract Jacein alleviates hypertension by restoring mitochondrial dynamic balance through modulating the FAM210A/OPA1 signaling pathway.

Introduction Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) remain central to South African rural diets and ethnomedicine, yet their bioactive composition is insufficiently documented. This study identified ILVs used for nutritional and medicinal purposes in Ga-Molepo and assessed their phytochemical and antioxidant profiles. Methods A systematic ethnobotanical survey (n = 216) identified commonly used ILVs. Five species— Bidens pilosa, Cleome gynandra, Crotalaria juncea, Tribulus terrestris, Amaranthus cruentus —were analyzed for total carotenoids, phenolics, antinutritional factors, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), and metabolite profiles using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Results ILVs exhibited significantly higher carotenoid and phenolic contents than spinach. B. pilosa had the highest antioxidant capacity, while C. juncea contained the most carotenoids. Over 200 metabolites were detected, mainly flavonoids, with distinct species-specific clustering in PCA and OPLS-DA. Discussion Biochemical and metabolomic evidence strongly supports the traditional medicinal uses of ILVs. Species differ substantially in metabolite composition, suggesting varied therapeutic potential. Conclusion ILVs are nutritious, rich in bioactive compounds, and relevant for non-communicable disease prevention. Further studies should include quantitative metabolomics, micronutrient profiling, and clinical validation.

The remediation of large-areas of Cd-contaminated soil, especially agricultural land, remains a major global challenge. Phytoremediation using hyperaccumulators is an effective method for treating Cd-contaminated soils; however, its long-term effectiveness over successive growing seasons has been insufficiently investigated. This study evaluated the sustained phytoremediation capacity of the farmland weed Bidens pilosa L., a known Cd hyperaccumulator, in a three-year pot experiment using contaminated agricultural soil from the Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area (2.08 mg/kg Cd). Two harvest regimes were compared: short-term (harvest at the flowering stage, 70 days) and long-term (harvest at the fruit maturity stage, 108 days). The results showed that although higher total Cd accumulation per harvest was obtained in long-term treatments, short-term experiments resulted in a 14.7% higher net removal rate per day (NR) due to their shorter growth cycle (64.8% of the long-term period). Soil extractable Cd concentrations decreased by an average of 31.2% over three consecutive years of phytoremediation, reducing environmental risk but also limiting subsequent Cd uptake by plants. These findings demonstrate that optimizing harvest timing can substantially improve remediation efficiency per unit of time without the need for soil quality improvement measures. The short growing season characteristic of weeds found in agricultural areas is a practical advantage of phytoremediation.

Co-invasion by multiple invasive species is becoming increasingly prevalent, yet the role of interactions among invasive species in shaping invasion success remains poorly understood. While invader abundance is known to facilitate establishment, the combined effects of invasive plant richness and abundance on invasion outcomes have rarely been tested experimentally. We established a fully factorial mesocosm experiment manipulating four levels of invasive plant richness (0, 1, 2, or 3 species) and abundance (0, 12, 24, 48 individuals) using three Asteraceae invaders— Erigeron canadensis , Erigeron annuus , and Bidens pilosa —within native plant communities. We found facilitative and neutral interactions among invaders generated non-additive (reversal) negative effects on native biomass, which intensified with increasing invader richness. Higher richness facilitated invasion success by modifying selection effects among invasive species—primarily through size-mediated mechanisms—that enhanced invasive biomass and strengthened suppression of native plants. Invasive richness altered soil nitrogen pools without promoting invasion success, but was associated with changes in soil microbial biomass carbon and litter decomposition that coincided with reduced native performance. Elevated invader abundance further promoted invasion success and interacted synergistically with richness to amplify invasion impacts, indicating that co-invasion severity may intensify under future scenarios of increasing propagule pressure. Overall, our findings provide experimental evidence for the invasional meltdown hypothesis and demonstrate how invasive plant richness and abundance jointly enhance invasion success. Our results further suggest that early management targeting low-abundance invaders may disrupt the synergistic effect between invasive plant richness and abundance and mitigate the impacts of multispecies co-invasion. • Positive and neutral interactions of invasive species produce non-additive effects. • Invader richness boosts invasive biomass and suppresses natives via selection effects. • Selection effects are primarily driven by size-mediated mechanisms. • Invasive plant abundance synergizes with richness to amplify invasion success.

ABSTRACT Bidens pilosa L. is recognized for its diverse medicinal properties, including its antioxidant effects. However, understanding the geographical variability in its volatile oil composition and its impact on antioxidant efficacy is crucial for quality control and functional ingredient development. This study investigated the geographical influence on the chemical profiles and in vitro antioxidant activities of volatile oils from B. pilosa mature whole‐plant samples collected from 11 representative regions in China. Volatile oils were extracted via CO 2 supercritical fluid technology (yields: 0.93%–2.99%, w/w, dry weight) and analyzed by GC–MS. Our analysis revealed that the volatile oils were primarily composed of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, esters, and fatty acids, with methyl laurate and stearic acid consistently identified as significant fatty acids and ester components leading the chemical profiles. Significant variations in antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical scavenging) were observed among different geographical origins, with Bozhou (IC 50 = 38.06 mg mL −1 for DPPH) and Guiyang (IC 50 = 3.64 mg mL −1 for ABTS, IC 50 = 4.92 mg mL −1 for hydroxyl radical) oils showing particularly strong scavenging capacities. Crucially, multivariate analyzes (cluster analysis, PCA, PLS‐DA, GRA) successfully differentiated sample origins and pinpointed stearic acid, octadecynoic acid, and methyl laurate as key quality determinants. Furthermore, methyl laurate demonstrated a robust positive correlation ( r ≥ 0.90) with antioxidant activity, underscoring its potential as a marker compound. These findings provide novel and comprehensive insights into the geographical variations in B. pilosa volatile oils, establishing a scientific basis for quality evaluation and facilitating the targeted development of these oils as valuable antioxidant functional ingredients.

Parasitic plants can inflict significant damage to invasive plants and are considered biocontrol agents. Climate warming can affect the fitness of invasive plants and the efficacy of their biocontrol agents. However, the impact of climate warming on the responses of invasive plants to parasitism remains inadequately explored. To investigate this critical issue, we conducted a controlled warming experiment to assess the impact of a constant, continuous +2 °C temperature increase, consistent with projected global warming scenarios reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, on the responses of two common invasive plants in China, Solidago canadensis and Bidens pilosa to the parasitic plant Cuscuta gronovii. Our findings indicate that parasitism significantly reduces the growth of both invasive species irrespective of temperature increases. A significant interaction was observed between Cuscuta parasitism and the different host species, particularly affecting stem diameter, plant height, and root-to-shoot ratio of the host plants. Interestingly, while increased temperature independently did not significantly impact total biomass, aboveground biomass, or leaf number of the host plants, it exhibited marginal interactions with parasitism and the different hosts regarding belowground biomass of the hosts. Moreover, C. gronovii biomass was significantly influenced by host type; however, increased temperatures did not significantly affect the biomass of C. gronovii or its deleterious effects on host plants. Overall, these findings highlight the complex interplay among parasitism, host species, and environmental factors, which are crucial for comprehensively understanding invasive species dynamics and their ecological implications.

Bean aphids are a major constraint to bean production worldwide and are commonly managed through intensive pesticide use. In many farming systems, particularly where crop production is increasingly intensified, reliance on chemical control has reduced the use and the appreciation of agroecological pest management strategies, including conservation biological control. The widespread application of pesticides not only suppresses natural enemies of aphids but also contributes to broader declines in insect diversity, especially when combined with the loss of non-crop habitats that support beneficial insects. To address this, we assessed whether engineering bean crop habitats with flowering plants could enhance adult hoverfly populations and increase hoverfly larval abundance within bean fields. The potential of four flowering plant species (Galinsoga parviflora, Ocimum basilicum, Bidens pilosa and Ageratum conyzoides) grown around bean crops to attract hoverflies was evaluated. Bean crops surrounded by flowering plant species were able to reduce aphid numbers and damage by 51% compared to the control treatment which had no field margin. Bean fields surrounded by O. basilicum had the lowest aphid damage score (1.2) and highest bean yield (917 kg/ha). Overall, bean crops surrounded by flowering plant species yielded between 621 to 917 kg/ha, which was 22-42% higher than the untreated control (509 kg/ha). Such evidence may help support policies that promote agroecological practices instead of synthetic pesticides.

The negative impacts caused by synthetic herbicides have necessitated research on environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives. In this study, a novel botanical nanoherbicide was developed through green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) assisted by aqueous extract of Brucea javanica (BJ) residue. The BJ-Ag NPs were characterized using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). TEM images indicated that the BJ-Ag NPs were spherical with an average particle size of 12.75 nm. Meanwhile, the herbicidal activity against two paddy weeds (Echinochloa crusgalli and Bidens pilosa L.) and phytotoxicity to rice (Oryza sativa L.) were evaluated using the Petri dish method. Compared to the BJ residue extract, the BJ-Ag NPs exhibited enhanced inhibitory activity on the seed germination and seedling growth of two target weeds, while showing alleviated phytotoxicity and partially restored seedling vigor in rice. Obviously, positive impacts on both the weed and crop were obtained after synthesizing Ag NPs using the BJ residue extract. The results in this study demonstrated the potential of the BJ-Ag NPs as a sustainable, crop-friendly nanoherbicide for weed management in paddy fields.

The use of synthetic herbicides is an effective way to control weeds, but their widespread use has negative environmental impacts. A bioherbicide made from purple nutsedge tubers can be an alternative for weed control. Purple nutsedge’s tuber contain allelopathy compounds that can inhibit the growth of other plants (weeds). This study aims to evaluate the response of various shapes and sizes of bioherbicide granules made from purple nutsedge’s tuber in suppressing the germination of weed seeds and crop seeds. The experiment used a completely randomized design one factor and eleven treatments: control without herbicide treatment, synthetic herbicide active ingredient oxyfluorfen 240 g/L, purple nutsedge’s tuber powder bioherbicide without carrier, very small round granule bioherbicide, small round granule, medium round granule, large round granule, very small cylindrical granule, small cylindrical granule, medium cylindrical granule, and large cylindrical granule. Each treatment was tested on four species: Bidens pilosa and Cynodon dactylon (weeds), cucumber, and rice (crops). The experimental results showed that the application of purple nutsedge’s tuber-based bioherbicides exerts a noticeable influence on several germination parameters. The smaller the bioherbicide granule, the higher the germination inhibition rate. Very small, round-shaped granule bioherbicides showed greater effectiveness in suppressing seed sprout percentage, reducing growth rate, increasing the percentage of abnormal sprouts, and inhibiting plumula and radicle growth.

Cirsium vulgare (Asteraceae) is a newly emerged invasive species in Yunnan Province, China, and its phytotoxic potential has not yet been studied. This study was conducted to explore potential allelopathic effects of C. vulgare and to identify its flavonoid and phenolic acid compounds. Four aqueous extracts (roots, stems, leaves, and flower/fruit heads) of C. vulgare exhibited high inhibitory activity against the germination and seedling growth of Bidens pilosa and Digitaria sanguinalis. The inhibition rates of germination rate, germination index, root length, shoot length, and biomass of both species increased significantly with increasing concentrations, with B. pilosa being more inhibited than D. sanguinalis. Extracts from leaves and flower/fruit heads yielded the strongest inhibition, followed by stem extracts, with the lowest impact from root extracts. Flavonoids (65.41%) and phenolic acids (23.1%) collectively comprised 88.51% of all identified compounds. Thirty-eight flavonoid compounds and thirty phenolic acid compounds were selected for further analysis, representing 53.97% and 71.91% of the total content of flavonoids and phenolic acids, respectively. Many of the flavonoids and phenolic acids identified have been previously reported as known allelochemicals with possible allelopathic effects. This was the first study to show that the allelopathic potential of C. vulgare may aid its invasion and expansion.

Exploration of the therapeutic potential of Bidens pilosain the management of prostate cancer

Excessive alcohol drinking leads to chronic kidney injury (CKI). Bidens pilosa, as a medicinal plant, has promising antibacterial, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic activities. There is a dearth of information on the therapeutic effect of ethanol extract of Bidens pilosa leaves (EEBP) against alcohol-induced CKI. The exploration of EEBP as renoprotection was evaluated through a comprehensive experimental and pharmacoinformatics analysis. Alcohol (10 ml/kg) was administered for 6 weeks or in combination with EEBP (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg). Induction of alcohol significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, creatinine, and uremic levels. Furthermore, kidney tissue abnormalities were observed in the alcohol group. The data indicated that EEBP improved the kidney histology and decreased the levels of lipid profile and kidney function parameters. The compounds have the flexibility and stability to bind to active sites of protein, consisting of PPARG, SIRT, HIF1A, and NQO1. This study shows that EEBP exerted an ameliorative effect in alcohol-induced kidney injury.

Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff improves liver lipid metabolism disorders in type 2 diabetic mice by activating mitophagy.

In the Adamawa region of Cameroon, maize as the predominant crop, faces significant challenges, including weed management, which substantially compromises yields. This study aimed to characterize the weed flora of maize farms in the Vina division. The modified Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method was applied to 40 maize farms, with three 25 m² surveys per site, chosen according to vegetation homogeneity. A total of 74 weed species were recorded, distributed across 58 genera and 17 botanical families. Poaceae (27.02 %), Fabaceae (14.86 %), and Asteraceae (13.51 %) are the most represented families, accounting for 55.39% of the overall observed weed flora. Dicotyledons dominate, representing 62.2 % of the species, while the biological spectrum reveals a strong presence of Therophytes (50 %), indicating a high proportion of short-cycle annual species. High diversity indices (Shannon: 3.81; Simpson: 0.97) and low intersite similarity coefficients (< 50 %), reflect significant high floristic richness and marked heterogeneity between sites. The combined analysis of the infestation diagram and hierarchical classification made it possible to identify three groups of weeds according to their harmfulness. The group of major species, the most problematic for maize cultivation, notably includes Spermacoce latifolia, Ageratum conyzoides, Eleusine indica, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Setaria barbata, Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis, Mimosa pudica, Sida rhombifolia, Kyllinga squamulata, and Euphorbia hirta. These results constitute an essential basis for implementing targeted management strategies adapted to the local agro-ecological context. However, their effective application in integrated weed management needs comprehensive complementary research on species ecology, their interactions with cropping practices, and their sensitivity to control methods.

ABSTRACT In contemporary agriculture, the excessive use of herbicides has raised significant environmental apprehensions. To address these environmental concerns, researchers have turned to the encapsulation of herbicides within nanocarriers as a promising strategy. In this study, alginate/chitosan nanoparticles (ALG/CS NPs) were designed as nanocarriers to encapsulate atrazine (AT). The ALG/CS NPs loaded AT herbicide nanoparticles (AT/ALG/CS NPs) showed an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the active ingredient above 50% under the rotation speed of 30,000 rpm by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ALG/CS NPs and AT/ALG/CS NPs were characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirmed the formation of nanoparticles. The assessment of both pre‐ and post‐emergence herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa L. illustrated a better weed control effect of AT/ALG/CS NPs than AT solutions. Contact angle and liquid holding capacity analyzed confirmed a better adhesive capacity performance of AT/ALG/CS NPs. This study provided a viable and environmentally benign alternative for herbicide delivery, contributing to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices.

The increasing demand for food is the driving force behind the search for novel, more selective, and less hazardous agrochemicals. Natural products are gaining prominence recently due to the promise of being green agrochemicals, but many natural products are poorly soluble in water, which reduces their applicability. In this work, we successfully formulated a water-insoluble Saussurea lappa root extract into a stable aqueous suspension using xanthan gum. The colloidal suspension was characterized by rheology, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. The results demonstrated that the suspension is a stable, sprayable, shear-thinning viscoelastic system (weak gel). A series of S. lappa solutions with xanthan gum were prepared and tested against five plant species, observing the inhibitory effect on the shoots and roots. The results were also compared with the commercial herbicide Dual. The S. lappa extract presented results comparable to or even greater than Dual for Lactuca sativa, Cucumis sativus, Brachiaria decumbens, and Bidens pilosa. However, it showed low inhibitory activity for Sorghum bicolor, highlighting its potential for selective weed control. This work illustrates xanthan gum as an effective vehicle for formulating insoluble natural products and demonstrates that S. lappa extract is a promising candidate for developing novel herbicides.

This study aims to determine the protective activity of Bidens pilosa L. leaf ethanol extract (EEDK) on the immune system based on the white pulp diameter, and histopathology of the spleen of white rats given alcohol. The study was conducted experimentally using a completely randomized design (CRD), with treatments divided into 5 groups: negative control (K-) without EEDK or alcohol administration, positive control (K+) administered 10 ml/kg body weight of alcohol, treatment 1 (P1) administered 250 mg/kg body weight of EEDK and 10 ml/kg body weight of alcohol, treatment 2 (P2) given 500 mg/kgbb EEDK and 10 ml/kgbb alcohol, and treatment 3 (P3) given 750 mg/kgbb EEDK and 10 ml/kgbb alcohol. EEDK was administered 1 hour after alcohol administration and was given orally every day for 43 days. The parameters observed in this study were diameter of the white pulp, and histopathology of the white rat spleen. The observation data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and followed by a post hoc test with the DMRT test to see the differences between treatments. The results showed that the ethanol extract Bidens pilosa L. potential as an immunomodulator by increasing the diameter of the white pulp of the spleen, and had a significant effect on spleen histology by showing protective activity with a decrease in the level of spleen tissue damage due to alcohol, particularly tissue fibrosis, lymphocyte apoptosis, and necrosis (p£0.05).

Farmer’s friend Bidens pilosa, a weed with diverse connections and roles

Bidens pilosa L., a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been used in clinical practice for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. BPA, an extract derived from the whole herb of B. pilosa L., has been shown to possess potent immunomodulatory properties by regulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) in a mouse syngeneic colorectal cancer (CRC) model. RT-PCR and flow cytometry analyses showed that BPA, together with its flavonoid and polyacetylene constituents, effectively suppressed the differentiation of M2-TAMs and Tregs by downregulating Arg-1 and CD25 expression. They had minimal effects on the expression of markers associated with M1-TAMs and promoted the proliferation of CD4+ T cells that were inhibited by M2-TAMs and Tregs. In mice, BPA markedly inhibited the growth of syngeneic CRC tumors, accompanied by decreased serum levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 and reduced expression of the proliferative marker Ki67 in tumor tissues. Moreover, BPA downregulated the mRNA expression of markers associated with M2-TAMs and Tregs, while increasing markers associated with M1-TAMs. Western blot analyses of tumor tissues revealed that BPA reduced the expression of marker proteins associated with M2-TAMs and Tregs, while increasing the expression of the immune-stimulatory markers CD80, GITR and CD4. In addition, combined treatment with BPA and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for CRC, notably enhanced the anti-tumor effect in mice. These findings indicate that BPA, an active extract of B. pilosa L., showed antitumor activity in mice by suppressing the differentiation of pro-tumorigenic TAMs and Tregs within the TME.