It turns out that leaf extract from the flower Bidens pilosa, also known as “hairy beggarticks,” is pretty effective at breaking down proteins, according to research published earlier this year in the International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research. The researchers believe it could be a promising new tool for the food processing industry.
Bidens pilosa extract contains enzymes helpful to the wine and cheese-making process, so it’s not a replacement for grapes or milk. But it does present a plant-based alternative to the expensive enzymes used in the food industry, South Ural State University scientists said in a press release.