INTRODUCTION:

Tridax procumbens commonly referred as coatbuttons or Tridax daisy is a fast growing, perennial herbaceous weed belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is indigenous to central and South America’s tropical and sub-tropical zones. Because it can grow in a variety of environment, it has spread over the world over time. It can also be found in Africa, Asia, Australia&Pacific islands^1,2

Tridax procumbens plant

Table 1: Scientific information about Tridax procumbens^3,4

Taxonomic Classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Subkingdom:	Tracheobionta
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Asteridae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Order:	Asterales
Clade:	Eudicots
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Heliantheae
Genus:	Tridax
Species:	T. procumbens
Binomial name:	Tridax procumbens
Synonyms:	Coat button, Mexican daisy, Tridax, wild daisy

Various bioactive substances including flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids and tannins have been found in tridax procumbens according to latest studies. Tridax procumbens promotes its pharmacological properties which include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antioxidant property. Due to these properties, it is a perfect fit for topical formulations intended to treat different type of inflammatory skin disease, burns, wounds and infections, etc.^5,6

Tridax procumbens is a prostrate to ascending herb with semi-prostrate annual or short-lived perennial stems which are 50cm long. The plant produces white or yellow blooms with ray florets which are three-toothed that resemble daisies. blooming all year long. Rays 4 mm, capitula 1-1.5cm in diameter. Simple, toothed, whole, typically arrowhead-shaped leaves that are infrequently pinnatisect. Strigose, exceptionally long peduncle. Lanceolate-ovate leaves have coarsely serrated margins, an acute base, and an acute apex. Petiole up to about 2cm; lamina strigose and ovate. Its fruit is a firm turbinate achene with a feathery, plume-like white pappus at one end. It is smooth or slightly ribbed and covered in stiff hairs. Fruit that appears grayish-brown due to its delicate ascending hairs. bearing fruit all year long. The fruit is 0.5–1.4 mm in diameter,1.5–2.5 mm long, tapering to a blunt base, and narrowly obconic to cylindrical.^7,8,9

Fig 1: TS of Tridax procumbens Leaf

Fig 2: TS of Tridax procumbens Root

Chemical Constituents:

From the plant Tridax Procumbens, several active chemical constituents were identified and isolated. quercetin, oxoester,Luteolin, myristic, lauric acid, arachidic,palmitic , tannin,linoleic acid β-sitosterol, carotenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and carotenoids, among others. Previous studies have documented the presence of beta-sitosterol, quercetin, luteolin, glucoluteolin, and dexamethasone. Presence of Linolenic acid was seen in aerial parts. WSTP-IA and WSTP-IB are two water insoluble polysaccharides which contain β-(1->6)-DGalactan main chain is purified from the leaves of the plant. Sterols were identified by GC-MS and lipid constituents of Tridax procumbens was also reported.A novel flavonoid,Procumbenetin which was extracted from aerial parts of plant, has been identified as 3, 6-dimethoxy-5,7, 2',3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone 7-O-β-glucopyranoside11.Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and selenium are the minerals found in T. Procumbens leaves. T. Procumbens has been found to be a potential source of provitamin A (carotenoids) for the general public, as well as a rich supply of potassium and plant protein supplements. Beta-amyrenone,Taraxasteryl acetate,oleanolic acid and lupeol are four novel terpenoids that have been identified from T. procumbens in addition to bis-bithiophene.Tridax procumbens Linn. yielded four recognised chemicals, including puerarin, and two novel flavones: 8,3′-dihydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxy-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl flavone and 6,8,3′-trihydroxy-3,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone. Oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, and esculetin.¹⁰

Structure of Isolated Compounds

Tridax Procumbens Pharmacological Activities:

Wound Healing Property:

In male wistar rats used in experiments, Tridax procumbens leaves juice is prepared which accelerated healing and also overcome steroid-depressed healing. The elevated level of lysyl oxidase.It has been proposed that the preparation's activity is what causes the wound to heal. The activity at the cellular level is indicated by the elevated nucleic acid level.It has been demonstrated that Tridax procumbens leaf juice reduces wound contraction in test animals. It entails intricate interactions between plasma-derived proteins, the extracellular matrix, epidermal and dermal cells, and regulated angiogenesis, all of which are regulated by a variety of growth factors and cytokines. Without influencing the ant contraction or granulation action of dexamethasone, Tridax counteracted the tensile strength depressing and antiepithelization effects of the well-known suppressant used for healing.The plant increases protein and nucleic acids in addition to lysyl oxidase. Acid content in the granulation tissue, most likely due to a rise in the amount of glycosaminoglycan^11,12,13..

Anti-inflammatory Activity:

Exudates volume leukocyte migration, edema extracts fluid, granuloma tissue and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase are the prameters which was significantly reduced by T. Procumbens depicting the plant’s good anti-inflammatory action. Tridax procumbens inhibits SRs and PGs which results in anti-inflammatory activity and has negligible ulcerogenic properties.The study of rat paw oedema, excision wound model, and rat skin fibroblastwas done by lyophilizing the T. Procumbens aqueous leaves extract.The fibroblast was not significantly increased by T.Procumbens when compared compared with ibuprofen. The fibroblast cell count, hydroxyproline/DNA ratio collagen synthesis showed nosignificant effect in the control and T. procumbens treatment while significant effects was seen when given treatment of ibuprofen and aspirin on the above-mentioned parameters.In the Carrageenan induced Oedema model, the reduction in Oedema was observe in 200mg/kg Tridax procumbens which is same as 50mg/kg ibuprofen treatment , in addition to that the specific activity of the enzyme gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was comparable at the dose of 200mg/kg in the Tridax procumbens, aspirin and ibuprofen . The anti-inflammatory activity of Tridax procumbens was performed using carrageenin-induced paw edema along with ibuprofen and standard drug. Paw edema was reduced significantly by using ibuprofen. The oral administration equi-effective dose of Tridax procumbens revealed about 20-35% greater activity compared to Ibuprofen. The effect of combination of Tridax procumbens along with various dose regimen of Ibuprofen results more anti-inflammatory activity than the Ibuprofen alone. The anti-inflammatory effects of T. Procumbens aerial parts may be partly attributed to the inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, as well as the free radical scavenging properties, which are likely due to the flavonoids and other polyphenols present in the extract.^14,15

Immunomodulatory Activity:

The study of immunomodulatory characteristics ofinsoluble ethanol Tridax Procumbensaqueous extract fraction has been done. TPEIF is administered IP at dosages of 0.25 and Leucocyte counts, splenic antibody-secreting cells, and the phagocytic index all significantly increased at the body weight (BW) of 0.5g/kg. A additional indication of humoral immune response stimulation was the rise in antibody titre of haemagglutination. Increased delayed type hypersensitivity reaction indicated strong proof that the cellular immune system was activated. TPEIF helps create a better antibody response to a particular clinical antigen and affects the humoral and cell-mediated immune systems. The immune-modulatory effect of ethanolic extract of T. Procumbens was tested on Swiss albino rats by giving oral doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The impact of fraction and extract on hormonal and cellular immunity was investigatedin vivo (haemagglutination and delayed hypersensitivity) and in vitro (phagocytosis).

The findings show that Tridax procumbens' flavonoidal and saponin fraction can alter the immune system's cell-mediated and hormonal components. They also investigated the phytoconstituents that provide Tridax procumbens its immunomodulatory properties^15,16,17,18

Antimicrobial activity:

The entire Tridax procumbens L. plant exhibits antibacterial action against a variety of bacterial species. Only against Seudomonas aeruginosa did the entire plant extract exhibit antibacterial action. The antibacterial activity of Tridax against two gramme negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as two gramme positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, was investigated using the disc diffusion method.To heal cuts and wounds, fresh plant juice is applied twice daily for three to four days. With an expressive MIC value, the antibacterial action is exhibited by methanolic extract of the entire Tridax procumbens Linn. plant. In ascending order of polarity, this feature was investigated for soxhlet extracts of water, acetone, etanol, and chloroform .While the activity against Staphylococcus aureusand Mycobacterium smegmatis was demonstrated by ethyl-acetate extract of the aerial parts only, activity against E. coli was demonstrated by the n-hexane extract of the flowers , and theactivity against Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella sp was demonstrated byethyl-acetate extract of the flowers. Salmonella C, Salmonella paratyphi, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium smegmatis have all been shown to be susceptible to the whole aerial portions which contain n-hexane extract.^13,19,20

Leishmanicidal Activity:

Leishmanicidal action of Tridax procumbens is done taking methanol extracts of whole plant,which is prepared from plants collected on the peninsula of Yucatanand tested for leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania mexicana promastigotes in an in vitro bioassay. (IC50 < 50μg/ml)¹⁵

Repellency Activity:

Tridax procumbens Linn leaves were steam-distilled to extract their essential oils, which were then tested against topical repellency of the Anopheles stephensi malerial parasite in cages of mosquito. Three distinct concentrations of each essential oil—two, four, and six percent—were tested. At a concentration of 6%, the essential oils of Tridax procumbens demonstrated a comparatively significant (> 300minutes)repellency effect. Tridax show promise as repellents against Anopheles stephensi at the concentration of 6%¹³

Acute and Sub-Chronic Toxicity:

By using Lorkes method acute toxicity was conducted.The rats were given intraperitoneal T. procumbens were given intraperitoneally to rats for 14 days at doses of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800mg/kg for 14 days in a row for subchronic studies. After the last administration, serum biochemical parameters, haematological analysis, and liver and kidney histopathology were evaluated. The LD50 of the T.Procumbens extract was found to be 2100mg/kg body weight, and body weight gained by all of the animals and body/organweight ratio in comparison to the untreated control (P<0.05). All of the animals gained body weight and organ/body weight ratio in comparison to the untreated control (P<0.05), in the subchronic studies. Thehistopathological studies showed that , there is endothelial toxicity at high dose levels of ethyl acetate extract, which cause haemorrhage by destroying the blood vessels²¹

Tridax procumbens topical formulations:

Herbal gel containing leaf extract of Tridax procumbens:

Authors of the formulation and assessment of aherbal gel containing Tridax Procumbens leaf extract are Jadhav V.D. et.al. The goal of the current study is to create and assess a herbal gel that contains leaf extract from tridaxprocumbens. This formulation contains Carbopol 940, Propylene glycol, Methyl paraben, Propylparaben, Glycerine, Triethanolamine and water. The study involved the preparation and formulation of four batches of herbal gel that is F1, F2, F3, F4 with the F2 batch being used for the gel formulation process. The results are the characterization of polymer that is polmerscolour and appearance were examined, reveling a white powder outcome. The study examines the phytochemical property of tridax procumbens leaf including moisture determination is 0.4mg, acid insoluble ash value is 4.0%, total ash value is 10%, water insoluble ash value is 3.0% and color is green. The preliminary phytochemical screening results showed positive results for carbohydrate, steroids, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. The physical parameter of the product including color and appearance are represented by the batch color code F1[light green green], F2[light green green], F3[ green green] and F4[dark green green]. The formulation’s homogeneity is determined by the batch homogeneity, with the following homogenous batches being F1, F2, F3 and F4. The formulations pH determined by the batch number and is listed as F1 at 6.8, F2 at 7.2, F3at 6.9 and F4 at 6.9. The formulations spreadability is measured by the batch spreadability of each formulation, with the highest value being 14.13. The formulation showed no microbial growth in the batch observation. The viscosity value of herbal gel is calculated using the RPM cp formula, which ranges from 5 to 50. This study focuses on the preparation of a topical gel using tridax procumbens leaf extract in the Indian system of medicine. Thegel showed good properties in terms of homogeneity, spreadability, pH, viscosity, microbial growth. The gel was successfully prepared with Carbopol 940 as a gelling agent. The gel formulated tridaxprocumbens, can be used topically to protect skin from staphylococcus aureus damage²²

Tridax procumbens based polyherbal cream:

Authors of the design and formulation of the Tridax Procumbens based polyherbal cream for wound healing potential are Chandra Pratap Singh, et.al. The formulation of cream is done by using accurately weighed drug extract with its based and other excipient. The composition of the ointment based is white wax (12.50gm), white petroleum (12.50gm), PEG (20.00gm), cetostearyl alcohol (12.50gm), methyl paraben (0.025 gm), propyl paraben (0.015gm). The polyherbal cream is prepared by following ingredients that are Tridax procumbens (4%), Papaya (1%), heena (1.5%), Neem (1%), Marigold (1%), Aloevera gel (1%), ointment based (93%). The cream is prepared by using soxhleation process, every powered plant was subjected to this process. By using the rotary vaccum evaporator the extracts were collected. The crude semisolid extracts were stored at 4⁰C until further process. Exicison wound mode 1 is known study the wound healing activity of plant. The rats were anesthetized with ketamine.The posterior side of rat is selected to perform this test, hairs were removed from that side. After 15 min of anesthesia was excised with the help of surgical blade. The unknown sample is applied and activity is seen and calculated at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days. According to the study the formulation is safe to use since it is in pH range which is required for skin, the formulation showed no rednes, inflammation, oedema or skin irritancy during irritancy study. By this study we found that a polyherbal cream for wound healing containing Tridax Procumbens highly accelerate the process of collagen formation and breaking strength due to presence of phytoconstituent²³

Tridax Procumbens Emulgel:

Authors of the formulation and evaluation of Tridax Procumbens are the Bhapkar Sachin Anadrao, et.al. An emulgel showing antibacterial, blood clotting activity by using Tridax Procumbens. The emulgel is prepared by decocting dried powder of tridax procumbens and test is perfomed for the presence of different constituents. The emulgel was prepared by using tridax procumbens extract, Carbopol 940, propylene glycol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, ethanolamine and required amount of distilled water. 10g of dried plant material is taken and extracted with 100ml of 100% ethanol and kept for digestion for 72hrs. The extract is concentrated and separatedin 250ml iodine flask. Sufficient quantity of Carbopol was taken with water and homogenized for 15mins at 300 to 500rpm. After gel formation Tridax Procumbens extract was added and again mixed at higher rpm and other excipients were added in it. The 5 formulations F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 of different concentration were made and different evaluation test for quinones, tannins, steroids coumarin, terpenoids, phenoliccompounds, saponins, alkaloid, flavonoidsare performed to evaluate the emulgel. The F5 batch shows requiredresult,thus can be used as antibacterial and wound healing activity²⁴

Tridax procumbens ointment:

Authors of evaluation of wound healing of topical formulation of leaf juice of Tridax procumbens L. in mice are B Yaduvanshi et.al.The ointment showing wound healing activity was prepared by using tridax procumbens.Excision wound (4mm) were made on depilated back of mice and then formulation of tridax procumbens (5mg of either 1 or 4mg/gm) was applied for twice for 4 days.Simultaneously standard ointment of VEFG ointment was actionable on another mice.Ointment base of tridax procumbens was enhanced by mixing PEG 400 and PEG 4000 in 2:3 ratio. Similarly, VEGF ointment base in concentration of 1 µg/g was prepared. The data obtained was analyzed and statistical record is maintained.For evaluation of formulation test for presence of alkaloid, carbohydrates, saponins, glycosides and steroids were done. The excision wound model determined the total content by using sircolkit.The study suggested that topical formulation of Tridax procumbens (1mg/g) is effective for healing dermal wound^25.

CONCLUSION:

With the help of above reviewed studies illustrate that Tridax procumbens is a useful medicinal plant that can be formulated into several topical form such as gel, cream, emulgel, and ointment each with different extraction methods, different excipients and preparation methods custom-made to specific therapeutic outcomes. All the prepared formulations showed promising product in terms of stability, homogeneity as well as effectiveness in different cases such as wound healing, antibacterial activity, and skin protection. This means the presence of beneficial phytochemicals, Tridax procumbens holds potential as an active ingredient in topical formulations for skin care and wound management.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this investigation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The authors would like to thank Shree Pushpasen Sawant College of Pharmacy for their kind support during the entire process.

REFERENCE:

1. Chauhan BS, Germination DE. Ecology of two troublesome Asteraceae species of rainfed rice: Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) and coat buttons (Tridax procumbens). Weed Sci. 2008; 56:567–73.

2. Khan SK, Rahman AHMM, Alam MS, Ahmed F, Islam AKM, Rahman MM. Taxonomic studies on the family Asteraceae (Compositae) of the Rajshahi Division. Res J Agric Biol Sci. 2008;4(2):134–40.

3. Adesh S. Musale, et al. A phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of plant Tridax procumbens. Research journal of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. 288-292

4. Mr. Avinash B. Thalkari, et al. Pharmacological Actions of Tridax procumbens L.: A Scientific Review. Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 27-30

5. Ankita J, Jain A. Tridax procumbens (L.): A weed with immense medicinal importance: A review. Int J Pharm Bio Sci. 2012;3: P544–52.

6. Agrawal S, Shivhare R. Pharmacology of Tridax procumbens a weed: Review. Int J PharmTech Res. 2010; 2:139–45.

7. Rastogi, R.P. and Mehrotra, B.N., “Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants” vol. 4, CDRI Lucknow, NISC, New Delhi, 1999, p.310.

8. Khan SK, Rahman AH, Alam MS, Ahmed F, Islam AKM, Rahman MM. Taxonomic studies on the family Asteraceae (Compositae) of the Rajshahi Division. Res J Agric Biol Sci. 2008;4(2):134–40.

9. Ganju K, Pathak AK. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical evaluation of Tridax procumbens Linn. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2013;5(1):42–6.

10. Raju TS, Davidson EA. Structural features of water-soluble novel polysaccharide components from leaves ofTridax procumbens Linn. Planta Med. 1994; 258:243–54.

11. Udupa SL, Udupa AL, Kulkarni DR. Study of Tridax procumbens for wound healing activity in rats. Planta Med. 1991;57(4):325–7.

12. Diwan PV, Tilloo LD, Kulkarni DR. Influence of Tridax procumbens on wound healing. Indian J Med Res. 1982; 75:460.

13. Gupta R, Sharma P, et al. A comprehensive review on the medicinal importance of Tridax procumbens Linn. J Biomed Pharm Res. 2012;109–13.

14. Nia R, Paper DH, Essien EE, Oladimeji OH, Iyadi KC, Franz G. Investigation into in-vitro radical scavenging and in-vivo anti-inflammatory potential of Tridax procumbens. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2003;18(1–2):39–43.

15. Bhagat VC, Kondawar MS. A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmacological use of Tridax procumbens Linn. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2010;1–10.

16. Tiwari U, Rastogi B, Singh P, Saraf DK, Vyas SP. Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens in experimental animals. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;92(1):113–9.

17. Olandunmoye MK. Immunomodulatory effects of ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens on Swiss albino rats dosed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Trends Med Res. 2006; 1:122–6.

18. Agarwal S, Khadese S, Talele G. Bioactive immunomodulatory fraction from Tridax procumbens. Sci Alert. 2010; 3:120–7.

19. Patil DD, Wadhawa GC, Pathade KB, Shinde PB, Deshmukh AK. Natural products from Tridax procumbens for anti-inflammatory activity. Indian J Nat Prod. 2009;5(4):220–2.

20. Taddei A, Rosas-Romero AJ. Tridax procumbens: Phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. Int J Phytother Phytopharmacol. 2000;7(3):235–8.

21. Abubakar A, Ogbadoyi EO, et al. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of Tridax procumbens in experimental animals. IOSR JESTFT. 2012;1(6):19–27.

22. Jadhav VD, Talele SG, Bakliwal A, Chaudhari GN. Formulation and evaluation of herbal gel containing leaf extract of Tridax procumbens. J Pharm Biosci. 2012;65–72.

23. Singh CP, Mishra PK, et al. Design and formulation of Tridax procumbens-based polyherbal cream for wound healing potential. Scholar Res Libr. 2013;15–21.

24. Bhapkar SA, Kshirsagar MB, et al. Formulation and evaluation of Tridax procumbens emulgel. Int J Res Pharm Biol Sci. 2013;905–13.

25. Yaduvanshi B, Mathur R, et al. Evaluation of wound healing potential of topical formulation of leaf juice of Tridax procumbens L. in mice. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2012;303–6.

Received on 11.11.2024 Revised on 20.01.2025

Accepted on 10.03.2025 Published on 10.05.2025

Available online from May 14, 2025

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2025; 17(2):173-178.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2025.00028

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.