Preprint / Version 1

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

Authors

  • Ajay Kumar aDepartment of Plant Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, 671316, Kerala, India
  • Sajana Sreedharan aDepartment of Plant Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, 671316, Kerala, India
  • Arun Kashyap bDepartment of Biotechnology, Government E. Raghavendra Rao Postgraduate Science College, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
  • Pardeep Singh cDepartment of Environmental Science, PGDAV College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110065, India
  • Nirala Ramchiary dSchool of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

Keywords:

Portulaca oleracea, Traditional food plants, Purslane, Omega-3-fatty acids, Ethnobotanical knowledge

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: Portulaca oleracea, Traditional food plants, Purslane, Omega-3-fatty acids, Ethnobotanical knowledge