Purslane (Portulaca oleracea, Portulacaceae) was the topic of a latest article in HerbalGram, the publication of the American Botanical Council. The article, written by affiliate editor Hannah Bauman, lays out the historical past, conventional makes use of, medicinal makes use of and fashionable analysis on the botanical. It’s a part of HerbalGram’s Meals as Medication collection.
Plant discovered worldwide
Purslane is a succulent floor cowl plant with fleshy, oval leaves. It most definitely originated within the japanese Mediterranean or western Asia however has now turn into naturalized worldwide. It’s recognized by many colloquial names, together with ma chi xian in Chinese language, verdolagas in Spanish and little hogweed in English. The plant is edible and has an attention-grabbing nutrient profile, together with a excessive quantity of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA.
It’s hardly ever used as a shopper product, nonetheless, and has been consigned principally as a livestock feed, particularly for poultry.
Identified since antiquity
Purslane’s medicinal potential has been a topic of curiosity since antiquity. The plant was talked about within the writings of Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder within the first century CE. Throughout the Roman Empire it was utilized in circumstances of complications, irritation, bladder issues, dysentery, and hemorrhoids.
The plant has additionally appeared in Indian conventional drugs programs the place it was used to deal with indigestion, ulcers, edema, eye ailments, and bronchial bronchial asthma. In Conventional Chinese language Medication, the place acknowledgment of the plant apparently got here even sooner than in Rome, the plant is take into account ‘chilly’ in nature. TCM formulators have used the plant to chill the blood and neutralize toxins. Dried aerial components had been indicated for remedy of fever, dysentery, diarrhea, carbuncles (a cluster of boils), eczema, and hematochezia (blood within the stool).
From a dietary standpoint, purslane consists of eight of the 9 important amino acids and all kinds of phytochemicals, together with the flavonoids kaempferol, myricetin, luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, genistein, and genistin. And the plant’s aerial components include a a lot greater quantity of useful fatty acids then do spinach or kale.
Fashionable analysis has centered on the plant’s advantages in circumstances of bronchial asthma and diabetes. Different research have centered on its neuroprotective results. It might eve have anti tumor exercise and antimicrobial properties.
Newest analysis
Whereas the plant has been know for millennia, new constituents are nonetheless to be discovered and a few latest analysis focuses on a extra full characterization of the plant. For instance, a latest examine out of China discovered a brand new skeleton flavonoid, dubbed oleracone G and a brand new lignan, named oleralignan B. Each compounds confirmed “outstanding antioxidant actions” based on the researchers.
Earlier however nonetheless latest analysis into the plant by the identical group discovered two extra new compounds, known as oleracone J and oleracone Okay. Different Chinese language researchers not too long ago remoted 4 new lignans from the plant.
Sources: Fitoterapia
DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2021.104993
A brand new skeleton flavonoid and a brand new lignan from Portulaca oleracea L. and their actions
Authors: Duan Y, et al.
Pure Merchandise Analysis
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1815742
Two new homoisoflavones from Portulaca oleracea L. and their actions
Authors: Duan Y, et al
Pure Merchandise Analysis
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1534852
4 lignans from Portulaca oleracea L. and its antioxidant actions
Authors: Ma Y, et al.
