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.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical knowledge; Omega-3-fatty acids; Portulaca oleracea; Purslane; Traditional food plants.

Figure 1

Purslane plant in its natural habitat.

Figure 2

World map showing ethnomedicinal reports of purslane in 44 countries against various diseases.

Figure 3

Main nutraceutical constituents found in purslane.

Figure 4

Ethnopharmacological properties of the main phytochemicals found in purslane.

Figure 5

Regulation of inflammatory cytokines by polysaccharides present in purslane.

Figure 6

HM-chromanone mediated antidiabetic activities of purslane.

Figure 7

Regulation of insulin secretion from INS-1 pancreatic β cells and antidiabetic activities of purslane polysaccharides.