Scientific name: Bidens tripartita

Common names: Pot Marigold, Marsh Marigold

Ayurvedic names: 

Chinese names: Zandu, Salpushpa, Zendok, Jhandu, Mary gowles

Bangladesh names: Tuberoses, 

Arabic names:     بر الآذريون (burr al-thrioon)

Rain Forest names: Rayless Marigold, Devil’s jackboot, 

Family: Compositae

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: Leaf, flower

Collection:  Between mid-summer, and early autumn.

Annual/Perennial: Annual

Height: 6 inches to 4 feet

Actions: Astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic

Known Constituents: Flavanoids, sterols, tannins, xanthophylls

Constituents Explained: Burr- Marigold is also known to its name as Water Agrimony. This is classified as herb Flavinoids, Xanthophylls, sterols, tannins and are specifically used for astringent. 

Description:  Full grown, orange yellow flowers, and some red flowers and are favorite grown flowers for the gardeners because of its beauty. Its leaves are separated and are dark green and its stem are hairy and just thin stems. Its flowers are very attractive and are not easily withered. Burr- Marigold can easily grown in a hot climate or not too cold temperature. 

Traditional Use:

A herb not used much today like it once was, Barr-Marihold uses for hemorrage, fever and kidneys.

When the dried herb is burned, the smell is vaguely like cedar, and is used as an insect repellent.

Clinical Studies:

A study determined the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the extracts, subextracts and essential oils of Bidens tripartita flowers and herbs. 

In the study, twelve extracts and two essential oils were investigated for activity against different Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some fungal organisms Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. terreus using a broth microdilution and disc diffusion methods. 

The results obtained indicate antimicrobial activity of the tested extracts (except butanolic extracts), which however did not inhibit the growth of fungi used in this study. Bacteriostatic effect of both essential oils is insignificant, but they have strong antifungal activity. 

These results support the use of B. tripartita to treat a microbial infections and it is indicated as an antimicrobial and antifungal agent, which may act as pharmaceuticals and preservatives.

Extracts from herb and flowers of Bidens tripartita L. (Asteraceae), obtained using solvents of different polarity, were studied for their radical scavenging effects. Antioxidant activities of pure flavonoids: flavanomarein, cynaroside and luteolin, which had been isolated from this plant, were also evaluated. 

Radical-scavenging activity was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using stable 1, (DPPH) radical. The content of flavonoids in flower heads is half of that found in the herb; however, the extract from flowers showed that the antioxidant activity was almost two times higher there.

Some extracts showed long lasting radical scavenging activity. Scavenging of DPPH showed second-order kinetics at the beginning of the assay period and later the first-order one. 

Different kinetics suggested the presence of polymerized and/or less active antioxidants with different scavenging mechanisms for particular polyphenolic compounds. Bur-marigold extracts are a potential source of natural antioxidants that may be used in pharmaceutical or food industry.

References:

Tomczykowa M, Tomczyk M, Jakoniuk P, Tryniszewska E. “Antimicrobial And Antifungal Activities Of The Extracts And Essential Oils Of Bidens Tripartita.” 2008 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19056546

Wolniak M, Tomczykowa M, Tomczyk M, Gudei J, Wawer I. “Antioxidant Activity Of Extracts And Flavonoids From Bidens Tripartita.” 2007 September-October. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18540165