A review on bioactive phytochemicals and ethnopharmacological potential of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)

Abstract

The Portulaca oleracea L. commonly known as purslane is distributed all over the world and easily grows in diverse soil and climatic conditions. It has been traditionally used as a nutritious and ethnomedicinal food across the globe. Various studies have shown that the plant is a rich source of various important phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins such as A, C, E, and B, carotenoids and minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc. It is particularly very important because of the presence of a very high concentration of omega-3- fatty acids especially α-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which are not generally synthesized in terrestrial plants. Various parts of purslane are known for ethnomedicinal and pharmacological uses because of its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, skeletal muscle relaxant, antitumor, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-insomnia, analgesic, gastroprotective, neuroprotective, wound healing and antiseptic activities. Due to multiple benefits of purslane, it has become an important wonder crop and various scientists across the globe have shown much interest in it as a healthy food for the future. In this review, we provide an update on the phytochemical and nutritional composition of purslane, its usage as nutritional and an ethnomedicinal plant across the world. We further provide a detailed account on ethnopharmacological studies that have proved the ethnomedicinal properties of purslane.

Multiple Site Dissimilarities of Herbaceous Species Due to Coal Fly Ash Dumping Based Soil Heavy Metal Toxication

“…The plant Portulaca oleracea has the potential to accumulate lead [ 48 , 49 ]. Hyptis suaveolens is now used for the Phytoremediation of polluted soil due to its property of accumulating heavy metals in its stem and leaves.…”

Nutritional Values and Therapeutical Effects of Mediterranean Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants

“…Omega-3 fatty acids are known to protect against cardiovascular disease, cancers, and other chronic diseases. Moreover, purslane has shown antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-insomnia, analgesic, gastroprotective, neuroprotective, wound healing, and antiseptic properties [79][80][81].…”

Agronomical Practices and Management for Commercial Cultivation of Portulaca oleracea as a Crop: A Review

“…However, the special attention that purslane has received during recent years is due to its exceptional nutritional content, mainly because of its high content of omega-3 fatty acids; antioxidant compounds such as vitamin A, C, E and B; and minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium [ 30 ], especially when plants are grown under stress conditions where higher concentrations of beneficial compounds are found [ 31 ]. These compounds are associated with the pharmacological properties of the species, such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity and hepatoprotective potential among others [ 32 ], which have led some to consider purslane a ´food of the future´ [ 13 , 33 , 34 ].…”