Exploration of the therapeutic potential of Bidens pilosa in the management of prostate cancer

Abstract

Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed medicinal plant traditionally used for inflammation, infections, and genitourinary disorders. Phytochemical studies have identified a chemically diverse profile, including flavonoids, chalcones, polyacetylenes, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and phytosterols, which collectively exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic properties . Preclinical investigations indicate that B. pilosa extracts and isolated compounds exert antiproliferative effects, induce apoptosis, modulate autophagy, and regulate key oncogenic signaling pathways such as Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt, while also affecting androgen receptor activity and immune cell phenotypes. These mechanisms are biologically plausible in prostate cancer, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) , where dysregulated proliferation, therapy resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune evasion drive disease progression. Although preliminary in vivo studies in prostatic hyperplasia models suggest activity in prostate tissue, direct mechanistic and in vivo evidence in prostate cancer models remains limited , highlighting critical gaps in translational knowledge. Safety and toxicology data are scarce, and standardization of extracts or identification of lead molecules is required to ensure reproducibility and clinical relevance. This review synthesizes existing phytochemical, mechanistic, and preclinical evidence, discusses potential anticancer pathways relevant to prostate carcinoma, and outlines a translational roadmap including standardized chemical characterization, in vitro mechanistic studies, validated in vivo prostate cancer models, pharmacokinetics and safety profiling, and early-phase clinical trials . Collectively, B. pilosa represents a promising source of multi-targeted lead compounds for prostate cancer research, with potential applications in chemoprevention, adjunctive therapy, and management of advanced CRPC, but rigorous preclinical and clinical evaluation is required before clinical translation .