Abstract

DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF PORTULACA OLERACEA PLANT

Dinesh N. Patil, Dinesh R. Padvi, Divyesh B. Patil, Hemant P. Suryawanshi* and R. A. Ahirrao

ABSTRACT

Since ancient times, purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), which is said to be the first vegetable ever eaten by humans, has been used in traditional cuisine and folk medicine. It has been dubbed the super food of the future and is a rich source of vitamins, flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, omega-3 fatty acids (particularly gamma- and alpha-linolenic acids), terpenoids, sterols, proteins, and minerals. Purslane has been found to have strong pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, and antihypertensive effects, because of its variety of phytoconstituents. Only a handful of these have had their molecular mechanisms of action thoroughly investigated, hence more methodical clinical research is required to evaluate purslane's potential medicinal uses. A thorough understanding of the pharmacology and phytochemistry of purslane has been made availablein this review for the entire scientific community to examine.

Keywords: Portulaca Oleracea, Anthelmintic Activity, Albendazole, Pheretima Posthuma.