Spanish Needle

Bidens pilosa, known as Spanish Needle or Blackjack, is native to the Americas, particularly Central and South America, but has spread globally as a common invasive weed in tropical and warm temperate regions, noted for its barbed seeds that cling to fur and clothing.

The small daily like appearance of the flower makes it attractive for use as garnish on a variety of dishes, including sides, salads and mains.

Sometimes called Wild or Spanish Chamomile, dried Spanish Needle flowers make a great alternative to chamomile for use as a herbal tea with a deep golden colour and grassy flavour.

Major chemical constituents (including 301 compounds) belonging to polyacetylenes, polyacetylene glycosides, flavonoids, flavone glycosides, aurones, chalcones, okanin glycosides, phenolic acids, terpenes, pheophytins, fatty acids and phytosterols have been identified or isolated from the different parts of this plant. Many of them have been considered as the bioactive compounds which are potentially responsible for the pharmacological actions.

Various types of preparations, extracts and individual compounds derived from this plant have been found to possess biological and pharmacological activities such as anti-malarial, anti-allergy, anti-hypertensive and smooth muscle relaxant, anti-cancerogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant. The results of data analysis on the chemicals, pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of B. pilosa validate the view of its folk worldwide-medicinal uses.1