Vol. 8, Issue 6 (2019)

Author(s):
Vishal Chugh, Vigya Mishra, SV Dwivedi and KD Sharma

Abstract:
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), believed to be the earliest vegetable consumed by human has been a part of traditional culinary and folk medicine system since long back. It is a rich source of vitamins, flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, omega-3 fatty acids (Especially alpha-linolenic and gamma-linolenic acids), terpenoids, sterols, proteins and minerals and has also been reported as the super food for the future. Owing to its diverse phytoconstituents, Purslane has been reported to possess potent pharmacological actions such as hepato-protective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, antihypertensive actions. However, molecular mechanisms of action of only few of these have been studied and more systematic clinical studies are needed to test the pharmaceutical properties of purslane. A detailed information on phytochemistry and pharmacology of purslane has been presented in this review for its full exploration by the research community.