An efficient and reproducible HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of major compounds (chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, orientin and isovitexin) present in the leaves of two Cecropia species, C. glaziovii and C. pachystachya. From the leaves of C. glaziovii and C. pachystachya were isolated the C-glycosylflavones isoorientin and isovitexin and identified on both species chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and the O-glycosylflavonol isoquercitrin. The C-glycosylflavone orientin was isolated only from C. pachystachya. Chlorogenic acid was the major compound in both species (11.1 mg g-1 of extract of C. glaziovii and 27.2 mg g-1 of extract of C. pachystachya) and for the flavonoids quantified, isovitexin was the main C-glycosylflavonoid for C. glaziovii (4.6 mg g-1 of extract) and isoorientin the main one for C. pachystachya (17.3 mg g-1 of extract).

Bidens pilosa L. has been used in different parts of the world mainly to treat diseases associated with immune response disorders, such as autoimmunity, cancer, allergies, and infectious diseases. The medicinal properties of this plant are attributed to its chemical components. Nevertheless, there is little conclusive evidence that describes the immunomodulatory activity of this plant. In this review, a systematic search was carried out in the PubMed-NLM, EBSCO Host and BVS databases focused on the pre-clinical scientific evidence of the immunomodulatory properties of B. pilosa. A total of 314 articles were found and only 23 were selected. The results show that the compounds or extracts of Bidens modulate the immune cells. This activity was associated with the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids that control proliferation, oxidative stress, phagocytosis, and the production of cytokines of different cells. Most of the scientific information analyzed in this paper supports the potential use of B. pilosa mainly as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumoral, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial immune response modulator. It is necessary that this biological activity be corroborated through the design of specialized clinical trials that demonstrate the effectiveness in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and infectious diseases. Until now there has only been one clinical trial in phase I and II associated with the anti-inflammatory activity of Bidens in mucositis.