A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Portulaca oleracea L

A Chinese drug-compatibility-based approach to purslane hydrogels for acute eczema therapy

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) with heat-clearing and detoxicating, anti-inflammatory and resolving swelling, relieving itching and astringing function, has remarkable efficacy for acute eczema. However, most of the clinical applications of purslane are freshly prepared decoction, not as easy to apply as cream, because the decoction is easy to breed bacteria and easy to oxidize. Here, based on the theory of Chinese medicines compatibility, we made a purslane-tannic acid hydrogel (PL-HATA) by simple methods under mild conditions to solve the drawbacks of easy oxidation and inconvenience of use of Purslane. The antimicrobial activity of PL-HATA hydrogel can exert an excellent antimicrobial effect, reducing the flora on the skin of acute eczema and further relieving the symptoms of acute eczema. At the same time, it creates a normal reactive oxygen species (ROS) microenvironment for acute eczema and promotes recovery from acute eczema. It also improves the symptoms of acute eczema by promoting cell proliferation and migration. Importantly, it resulted in improved skin lesion scores, scratching behavior, eosinophil infiltration, swelling and inflammation levels, immune homeostasis, and histopathological changes in rats with acute eczema. Besides, HATA hydrogel is not only suitable for Purslane's decocted metabolites but also for Purslane's freshly squeezed metabolites. This purslane application protocol solved the drawbacks of Purslane's decoction, improved its storage stability and convenience of use, which is the key issue to further promote its clinical application.

Oleraceins from Portulaca oleracea leaves: Quali-quantitative determination and antioxidant potential

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a spontaneous herb whose shoots are appreciated in the Mediterranean and Asian diets for their fresh flavor and crunchy texture. In addition to PUFA (PolyUnsaturated Fatty Acids), it contains unusual polyphenolic alkaloids called oleraceins. This work aimed at investigating the oleracein profile of different 'green' extracts of the leaves of Portulaca oleracea and evaluating their antioxidant capacity. An LC-MS screening of different extracts revealed the infusion as the extract richest in oleraceins. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of oleraceins in this extract resulted in the identification of three polyphenolic alkaloids never reported before and in the definition of oleracein A as the most abundant alkaloid. An oleracein-enriched fraction from the infusion and its hydrolysed derivative exhibited radical scavenging activity in vitro and led to activation of the Nrf2 pathway in cells without apparent cytotoxicity. Thus, its oleracein content may make purslane a potential nutraceutical for alleviating redox distress.

Ginkgo biloba extract safety: Insights from a real-world pharmacovigilance study of FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) events

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A traditional Chinese medicine extracted from the Ginkgophyta, Ginkgo biloba is commonly used to treat cardiac cerebral disease all over the world. Limited data exist regarding adverse drug reactions associated with Ginkgo biloba extract post-marketing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Currently, the drug safety profile of Ginkgo biloba extract is assessed using a substantial volume of case safety reports within the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study collected adverse events (AEs) data associated with Ginkgo biloba extract as the primary suspected drug from 2004 to 2023 from the FAERS database. A standardized mapping analysis of System Organ Class (SOC) and preferred term (PT) was conducted. Utilizing reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), information component (IC), and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM), significant disproportionate measurement signals of adverse drug reactions (ADR) were identified and high-intensity signals were analyzed.

RESULTS

700 reports of adverse events related to Ginkgo biloba extract were found in the FAERS database, affecting 23 organ systems. 88 significant mismatches were identified using four algorithms, leading to unexpected major adverse events like amaurosis fugax, fractional exhaled nitric oxide created, and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. The study observed a median onset time of AE associated with Ginkgo biloba extract at 7 days (interquartile interval [IQR] 0-109 days), with the majority of AE manifesting within the initial 7 days of drug treatment initiation. This investigation identified a noteworthy AE signal for Ginkgo biloba extract, underscoring the importance of clinical surveillance and risk assessment in its use.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, this study provides a deeper and broader understanding of suspected adverse reactions associated with Ginkgo biloba extract.

Lebanese Medicinal Plants with Ophthalmic Properties

Lebanon benefits from a rich biodiversity, with medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) representing an important part of the country's natural wealth; however, limited data are available documenting medicinal plants being employed in eye health. This review is the first to document Lebanese medicinal plants with ophthalmic characteristics and phytochemistry that might be beneficial in the development of new, accessible, and efficient ocular medications. In this study, we searched for studies on ocular therapeutic plants using known resources, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, and confirmed these plants' presence within the Lebanese flora. The efficacy of 52 species from 28 families, including two endemic species (Crepis libanotica and Salvia libanotica), has been documented. Their Latin names, regional names, ocular medical applications, the plant parts used, and preparation forms are detailed below. The largest number of species belongs to the Lamiaceae family (21%), followed by Asteraceae (14%) and Solanaceae (7%). The most commonly used plant parts are the stems, leaves, and seeds. Ocular treatments fall into several categories: inflammation, infection, irritation, dry-eye, eyewash, the prevention or delay of cataracts, and general eye problems. A significant percentage (68%) of the medicinal plants target the anterior part of the eye. Some of the reported plants can be harmful to the eyes and should be handled with caution. The Lebanese medicinal plants listed, constituting a local heritage with global importance, could be used for treating ophthalmic ailments and require special screening and preservation.

Comprehensive Ethnopharmacological Analysis of Medicinal Plants in the UAE: Lawsonia inermis, Nigella sativa, Ziziphus spina-christi, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Matricaria aurea, Phoenix dactylifera, Portulaca oleracea, Reichardia tingitana, Salvadora persica, Solanum lycopersicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Withania somnifera, and Ziziphus lotus

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to diverse indigenous medicinal plants traditionally used for centuries. This study systematically evaluates the pharmacological and nutritional potential of key medicinal plants, including Lawsonia inermis, Nigella sativa, Ziziphus spina-christi, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Cymbopogon schoenanthus, Matricaria aurea, Phoenix dactylifera, Portulaca oleracea, Reichardia tingitana, Salvadora persica, Solanum lycopersicum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Withania somnifera, and Ziziphus lotus. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify studies relevant to their nutritional and pharmacological uses. The findings highlight the therapeutic roles of these plants in managing global health challenges such as gastrointestinal diseases, and antimicrobial resistance through bioactive compounds like flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants. Additionally, their contributions to nutrition, including essential vitamins and minerals, are emphasized for disease prevention and health promotion. While this research focuses on the UAE, the implications are globally relevant, as many of these plants are also found in traditional medicine across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Integrating these findings into global nutritional and healthcare systems offers potential solutions for pressing public health concerns, reduces reliance on synthetic pharmaceuticals, and promotes sustainable healthcare practices. This work is a valuable reference for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, bridging traditional knowledge and modern scientific applications globally.

Dietary purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) leaf powder maintains growth and intestinal health in Oreochromis niloticus under chronic water-borne cadmium exposure by strengthening the gut barriers, modulating the intestinal nutrient transporters, and relieving oxidative stress

High cadmium (Cd) concentrations pose a threat to aquatic life globally. This study examined the efficiency of adding purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) leaf powder (PLP) to Oreochromis niloticus diets on Cd's negative effects. PLP was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography, and its main constituents were gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and pyrocatechol. Nile tilapia (180 fish, 34.5 ± 0.5 g) were divided into four groups in triplicate. A basal diet was given to the control group. The PLP group received a basal diet containing 10 g PLP/kg diet. The Cd group was exposed to 50 µg/L water. The Cd + PLP group was exposed to Cd and fed diets containing PLP. Results showed that PLP significantly rescued Cd-induced effects. PLP improved fish survival, feed conversion ratio, and growth retardation caused by Cd. PLP also restored decreased activities of lipase, trypsin, and amylase in the intestine. Furthermore, PLP corrected disturbances in leptin and growth hormone levels induced by Cd. PLP mitigated pathological alterations, replenished antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GSH), and reduced lipid peroxidation in the intestinal tissues. PLP supplementation depleted significant Cd accumulation in the intestine and muscles. Additionally, PLP corrected altered expressions of tight junction proteins (zo-1, zo-2, and claudin-4) and nutrient transporters (glut-1, slc15a2, slc26a6, and slc4a4) in Cd-exposed fish. Conclusively, PLP shows promise as a dietary supplement to mitigate Cd's harmful impacts on fish growth. Its antioxidant activity and regulation of intestinal tight junction proteins and nutrient transporters contribute to its effectiveness. PLP supplementation holds the potential for reducing the detrimental effects of Cd in aquaculture.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PO in a rat model of testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH and explore the underlying mechanisms. Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into the following equal groups (n = 7): normal control (NC) group, TP (3 mg/kg) group, finasteride (10 mg/kg) group, 25 and 50 mg/kg PO groups. At the end of the experiment, the body weights (BWs) of the rats were measured before they were euthanized to the establishment obtain serum and prostate weight (PW). TP-induced levels of androgen-related proteins in the prostate were also investigated. In the TP group, prostate size, BW, serum DHT level, prostate epithelial cell thickness and androgen-related protein level were higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.001). PO reversed TP-induced BPH in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01) and its effect was similar to that of finasteride. A similar effect of PO on the androgen-related protein level was also observed. We successfully established a TP-induced BPH rat model. This is the first study to demonstrate that inhibition of androgen-related proteins using PO can alleviate BPH.

Portulaca Oleracea L. as a Potential Therapeutic Drug Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Studies

Portulaca oleracea L. (POL) has a long history of medicinal use worldwide, and numerous clinical and experimental studies demonstrated the therapeutic effects of POL and its active ingredients in the treatment of Ulcerative colitis (UC). In this review, we summarized the underlying mechanisms and roles of POL in UC treatment based on experimental and clinical studies. The research articles cited in this study were obtained by employing specific keywords, such as "purslane", "IBD", "UC", "inflammation", "gut microbiota", and "intestinal barrier", in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Clinical studies found that both POL monotherapy and POL traditional Chinese medicine compound are effective in treating UC. Meanwhile, experimental studies found that POL intervenes in UC by regulating intestinal flora, repairing mucosal barrier, and regulating immune response. Increasing evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of POL in UC treatment.

The effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on C-reactive protein, lipid profile, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Although numerous trials have demonstrated the benefits of purslane on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the results of some studies reject such effect. We elucidated the influence of purslane on c-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile, and glycemic control in patients with T2DM. We conducted a systematic search on Web of Sciences, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase, to identify studies published from their inception to February 10, 2024. The random effect model was used to calculate the combined effect, the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and its 95 % confidence interval (CI). Purslane supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (WMD: -15.01; 95 % CI: -25.31, -4.71, p= 0.004), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: -17.75; 95 % CI: -26.06, -9.45; p< 0.001), triglyceride (TG) (WMD: -21.30; 95 % CI: -32.59, -10.00; p< 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: -6.10; 95 % CI: -9.52, -2.68; p< 0.001), and CRP levels (WMD: -1.44; 95 % CI: -2.25, -0.63; p< 0.001), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: 6.17; 95 % CI: 2.53, 9.80; p< 0.001). Also, purslane did not significant effect on serum levels of insulin, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and homeostatic model Assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The results of our study showed that purslane supplementation improved FBG, and lipid profile levels, but did not affect HOMA-IR, insulin, and HbA1c levels. However, high-quality trials are needed to approve our results.

Portulaca oleracea L.: literature quantitative research analysis

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) has always been considered a plant with excellent qualities; in fact, it has been consumed for centuries as an edible plant but also used in folk medicine. This work aims to give an updated shot of the main features and potentialities of purslane. A literature quantitative research analysis was carried out. Besides the botanical and geographical aspects, we have explored the nutritional properties and possible beneficial effects on human health due to the presence of bioactive compounds, indicating their traditional use in food and medicine preparation as well as proposing possible future applications. Purslane is a rich source of vitamins, flavonoids, organic acids, lignans, alkaloids, terpenoids, cerebrosides, sterols and minerals; in particular, it is considered a good vegetable source of unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. Due to its profile of bioactive components, several potential beneficial effects on humans have been reported, i.e. hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant. Purslane finds several applications: enhancing the nutritional and sensory properties of bread, stabilising yoghurt, improving fish sausages' quality and shelf-life, acting as a natural additive due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, it can be utilised for phytoremediation and recycling drainage water in saline environments.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of polysaccharide from Portulaca oleracea L.: A review of phytochemistry and immunomodulatory effect

Portulaca oleracea L., a plant with both edible and medicinal properties, is traditionally valued for its diuretic, antipyretic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic functions in folk medicine. P. oleracea polysaccharide (POP), a pivotal bioactive component, has various biological activities. Notably, their immunomodulatory capabilities have emerged as a significant area of research. The extraction, purification, monosaccharide composition, structure characterization, and biological activity of POP have been extensively investigated to identify the active components and to clarify their pharmacological actions and underlying molecular mechanisms. It aims to delineate the pharmacological mechanisms and molecular pathways associated with these polysaccharides, thereby underscoring their therapeutic promise and nutritional significance. Furthermore, the review critically examines the current research landscape of POP, identifying gaps and proposing innovative perspectives to enrich the scientific discourse surrounding these bioactive compounds.

Peptide-Membrane Docking and Molecular Dynamic Simulation of In Silico Detected Antimicrobial Peptides from Portulaca oleracea's Transcriptome

The main issue with clinical infections is multidrug resistance to traditional antibiotics. As they are essential to innate immunity, shielding hosts from pathogenic microbes, traditional herbal remedies are an excellent supplier of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), vital parts of defensive systems. Nevertheless, little is known about the bioactive peptide components of most ethnobotanical species. Our goal in this study was to find new, likely AMPs from Portulaca oleracea (P. oleracea) using in silico studies. The P. oleracea transcriptome was gained from Sequence Read Archive (SRA) and quality controlled, then adapters and other low-quality reads were trimmed. Afterward, de novo assembled and translated open reading frames (ORFs) were determined. Next, the ORFs were filtered based on AMP physiochemical criteria and deep learning methods. Finally, the five selected putative AMPs docked with E. coli and S. aureus membranes that showed penetration in bilayers. In this step, PO2 was chosen as a candidate AMP to analyze with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our data demonstrated that PO2 is more stable in E. coli than in S. aureus. Moreover, these predicted AMPs can be good candidates for in vitro and in vivo analysis.

Exploring lipid signaling in plant physiology: From cellular membranes to environmental adaptation

Lipids have evolved as versatile signaling molecules that regulate a variety of physiological processes in plants. Convincing evidence highlights their critical role as mediators in a wide range of plant processes required for survival, growth, development, and responses to environmental conditions such as water availability, temperature changes, salt, pests, and diseases. Understanding lipid signaling as a critical process has helped us expand our understanding of plant biology by explaining how plants sense and respond to environmental cues. Lipid signaling pathways constitute a complex network of lipids, enzymes, and receptors that coordinate important cellular responses and stressing plant biology's changing and adaptable traits. Plant lipid signaling involves a wide range of lipid classes, including phospholipids, sphingolipids, oxylipins, and sterols, each of which contributes differently to cellular communication and control. These lipids function not only as structural components, but also as bioactive molecules that transfer signals. The mechanisms entail the production of lipid mediators and their detection by particular receptors, which frequently trigger downstream cascades that affect gene expression, cellular functions, and overall plant growth. This review looks into lipid signaling in plant physiology, giving an in-depth look and emphasizing its critical function as a master regulator of vital activities.

Response of Purslane Plants Grown under Salinity Stress and Biostimulant Formulations

Purslane has been suggested as an alternative crop suitable for human consumption due to its high content of minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and several health-beneficial compounds. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of salinity stress (tap water (control), 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 10,000 mg L-1), biostimulant application (putrescine and salicylic acid at 200 mg L-1), and the combination of the tested factors (i.e., salinity × biostimulant application) on the growth and chemical composition of purslane plants (Portulaca oleracea L.) over two growing seasons (2022 and 2023). Irrigation with tap water and putrescine application resulted in the highest plant height, weight of aboveground and underground parts, and number of shoots per plant. In contrast, the lowest values of growing parameters were recorded under severe saline stress (10,000 mg L-1), especially for the plants that were not treated with biostimulants. The same trends were observed for macronutrients (N, P, K), total carbohydrates, total chlorophylls, and vitamin C content in leaves. Moreover, nitrate and proline content was higher in plants grown under salinity stress, especially under severe stress (8000-10,000 mg L-1) without biostimulant application. In general, the application of biostimulants mitigated the negative impact of salinity on plant growth and leaf chemical composition, while the effect of putrescine on the tested parameters was more beneficial than that of salicylic acid. In conclusion, this study provides useful information regarding the use of putrescine and salicylic acid as biostimulatory agents with the aim of increasing purslane growth under salinity conditions.

Autophagy: A potential target for natural products in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease primarily affecting the mucosa of the colon and rectum. UC is characterized by recurrent episodes, often necessitating lifelong medication use, imposing a significant burden on patients. Current conventional and advanced treatments for UC have the disadvantages of insufficient efficiency, susceptibility to drug resistance, and notable adverse effects. Therefore, developing effective and safe drugs has become an urgent need. Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process that plays an important role in intestinal homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that aberrant autophagy is involved in the development of UC, and modulating autophagy can effectively alleviate experimental colitis. A growing number of studies have established that autophagy can interplay with endoplasmic reticulum stress, gut microbiota, apoptosis, and the NLRP3 inflammasome, all of which contribute to the pathogenesis of UC. In addition, a variety of intestinal epithelial cells, including absorptive cells, goblet cells, and Paneth cells, as well as other cell types like neutrophils, antigen-presenting cells, and stem cells in the gut, mediate the development of UC through autophagy. To date, many studies have found that natural products hold the potential to exert therapeutic effects on UC by regulating autophagy. This review focuses on the possible effects and pharmacological mechanisms of natural products to alleviate UC with autophagy as a potential target in recent years, aiming to provide a basis for new drug development.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of digestive inflammatory cancer transformation: Portulaca oleracea L. as a promising drug

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat various types of inflammation and tumors of the digestive system. Portulaca oleracea L. (POL), has been used in TCM for thousands of years. The chemical composition of POL is variable and includes flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and organic acids and other classes of natural compounds. Many of these compounds exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer-transforming effects in the digestive system.

AIM OF STUDY

In this review, we focus on the potential therapeutic role of POL in NASH, gastritis and colitis and their associated cancers, with a focus on the pharmacological properties and potential mechanisms of action of the main natural active compounds in POL.

METHODS

The information and data on Portulaca oleracea L. and its main active ingredients were collated from various resources like ethnobotanical textbooks and literature databases such as CNKI, VIP (Chinese literature), PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier and Google Scholar (English literatures), Wiley, Springer, Tailor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet.

RESULTS

Kaempferol, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, EPA, DHA, and melatonin were found to improve NASH and NASH-HCC, while kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin played a therapeutic role in gastritis and gastric cancer. Apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, genistein, lupeol, vitamin C and melatonin were found to have therapeutic effects in the treatment of colitis and its associated cancers. The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system.

CONCLUSION

The discovery of the beneficial effects of these natural active compounds in POL supports the idea that POL could be a promising novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cancers of the digestive system. However, clinical data describing the mode of action of the naturally active compounds of POL are still lacking. In addition, pharmacokinetic data for POL compounds, such as changes in drug dose and absorption rates, cannot be extrapolated from animal models and need to be measured in patients in clinical trials. On the one hand, a systematic meta-analysis of the existing publications on TCM containing POL still needs to be carried out. On the other hand, studies on the hepatic and renal toxicity of POL are also needed. Additionally, well-designed preclinical and clinical studies to validate the therapeutic effects of TCM need to be performed, thus hopefully providing a basis for the validation of the clinical benefits of POL.

Efficacy and safety of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) for mild to moderate chronic hand eczema; A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a common skin inflammation with a complex pathophysiology. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is traditionally used in Persian medicine for skin ailments. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a standardized purslane extract (based on traditional Persian medicine) for adults with mild or moderately severe CHE.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at Razi Hospital in Iran from January to June 2022. Participants were randomly allocated to receive an oral purslane or placebo syrup plus topical Vaseline for four weeks. Seventy participants were randomly allocated into the intervention (n = 35) and placebo (n = 35) groups. The primary outcomes were the extent and severity of CHE symptoms over the four weeks after adjusting for age, gender and baseline score. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, symptom recurrence, treatment satisfaction, and adverse events.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of treatment, compared to the placebo group (n = 31), the purslane group (n = 31) had significantly lower physician-reported fissure scores (adjusted mean difference (adjMD): -0.50, 95 %CI -3.93 to -0.34, p = 0.043), participant-reported itching (adjMD -0.51, 95 %CI -2.32 to -0.31, p = 0.041), dryness (adjMD -1.46, 95 %CI -2.89 to -0.03, p = 0.045), and total itching, dryness and thickness (adjMD -2.36, 95 %CI -6.23 to -1.51, p = 0.023) scores. Fourteen participants (purslane n = 10; placebo n = 4, p = 0.068) experienced adverse events of mild to moderate severity.

CONCLUSION

Purslane has some promising effects for reducing the extent and severity of CHE symptoms, and no direct comparisons have been made with commonly used treatments. Future multicenter trials and mechanistic studies are warranted to establish the safety and effectiveness of purslane as a potential therapeutic agent for CHE.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20200707048040N1).

Unveiling antioxidant capacity of standardized chitosan-tripolyphosphate microcapsules containing polyphenol-rich extract of Portulaca oleraceae

The medicinal plant Portulaca oleraceae has a long history of usage in traditional medicine. Plant extracts have several interesting pharmacological effects but have some drawbacks that can be addressed via capsulation with chitosan. This work set out to do just that tally up the antioxidant effects of a polyphenol-rich P. olerace extract and see how capsulation affected them. The reflux extraction and response surface methodology (RSM) were carried out to optimize the phenolic and flavonoid content of P. oleraceae extract. Additionally, high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed to determine the secondary metabolite present in the extract. The microcapsules of extract-loaded chitosan were prepared using the ionic gelation method and characterized in terms of size, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and morphology of microcapsules. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to observe the successful production of microcapsules with a principal component analysis (PCA) approach. The antioxidant activity of microcapsules was established using the radical scavenging method. According to RSM, the highest amounts of TPC and TFC were obtained at 72.894 % ethanol, 2.031 h, and 57.384 °C. The compounds were employed from the optimized extract of P. oleraceae including phenolics and flavonoids. The microcapsules were secured with a %EE of 43.56 ± 2.31 %. The characteristics of microcapsules were approved for the obtained product's successful synthesis according to the PCA. The microcapsules have antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.0001). The findings of this study underscored the benefits of employing chitosan as a nanocarrier for extract, offering a promising approach to enhance plant-derived therapies.

Extraction and analysis of high-quality chloroplast DNA with reduced nuclear DNA for medicinal plants

BACKGROUND

Obtaining high-quality chloroplast genome sequences requires chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) samples that meet the sequencing requirements. The quality of extracted cpDNA directly impacts the efficiency and accuracy of sequencing analysis. Currently, there are no reported methods for extracting cpDNA from Erigeron breviscapus. Therefore, we developed a suitable method for extracting cpDNA from E. breviscapus and further verified its applicability to other medicinal plants.

RESULTS

We conducted a comparative analysis of chloroplast isolation and cpDNA extraction using modified high-salt low-pH method, the high-salt method, and the NaOH low-salt method, respectively. Subsequently, the number of cpDNA copies relative to the nuclear DNA (nDNA ) was quantified via qPCR. As anticipated, chloroplasts isolated from E. breviscapus using the modified high-salt low-pH method exhibited intact structures with minimal cell debris. Moreover, the concentration, purity, and quality of E. breviscapus cpDNA extracted through this method surpassed those obtained from the other two methods. Furthermore, qPCR analysis confirmed that the modified high-salt low-pH method effectively minimized nDNA contamination in the extracted cpDNA. We then applied the developed modified high-salt low-pH method to other medicinal plant species, including Mentha haplocalyx, Taraxacum mongolicum, and Portulaca oleracea. The resultant effect on chloroplast isolation and cpDNA extraction further validated the generalizability and efficacy of this method across different plant species.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified high-salt low-pH method represents a reliable approach for obtaining high-quality cpDNA from E. breviscapus. Its universal applicability establishes a solid foundation for chloroplast genome sequencing and analysis of this species. Moreover, it serves as a benchmark for developing similar methods to extract chloroplast genomes from other medicinal plants.

Isolation and characterization of dihydrohomoisoflavonoids from Portulaca oleracea L

Eight pairs of dihydrohomoisoflavonoids (1-8), including four pairs of enantiomeric aglycones [(R,S)-portulacanones B (1) and C (2) and (R,S)-oleracones C (3) and Q (4)] and four pairs of epimeric glycosides [portulacasides A-D and epiportulacasides A-D (5-8)], were obtained from Portulaca oleracea L. Among them, (R,S)-oleracone Q (4) and four pairs of epimeric glycosides (5-8) were reported for the first time. The 50% EtOH fraction from the 70% EtOH extract prevented HepG2 human liver cancer cell damage induced by N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), and the cell survival rate was 62.3%. Portulacaside B (6a), which was isolated from the 50% EtOH fraction, exhibited hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. The compound increased the survival rate of APAP-damaged HepG2 human liver cancer cells from 40.0% to 51.2% and reduced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, resulting in an inhibitory rate of 46.8%.

Two novel ketone alkaloids from Portulaca oleraceaL. and their anti-inflammatory activities

Eleven compounds were obtained from Portulaca oleracea L., including two novel ketone alkaloids, (1, 2), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzamide (3) (isolated for the first time), β-adenosine (4), oleracrylimide A and B (5, 6), oleracein H, C, D, Q and A (7-11). The two novel ketone alkaloids were identified as 5-acetyl-5-methylcyclopent-2-ene-1-carboxamide (1), named oleraciamide H, and (2 R,3S,4R,5R)-5-((R)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl glycinate (2), named oleracone Q by spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR and compound fingerprints. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory activities were tested via RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS and found that they could significantly inhibit the release of IL-1β and TNF-α.

Review of isolation, purification, structural characteristics and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L

Portulaca oleracea L., also known as purslane, affiliates to the Portulacaceae family. It is an herbaceous succulent annual plant distributed worldwide. P. oleracea L. is renowned for its nutritional value and medicinal value, which has been utilized for thousands of years as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The extract derived from P. oleracea L. has shown efficacy in treating various diseases, including intestinal dysfunction and inflammation. Polysaccharides from P. oleracea L. (POP) are the primary constituents of the crude extract which have been found to have various biological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, immune-stimulating, and intestinal protective effects. While many publications have highlighted on the structural identification and bioactivity evaluation of POP, the underlying structure-activity relationship of POP still remains unclear. In view of this, this review aims to focus on the extraction, purification, structural features and bioactivities of POP. In addition, the potential structure-activity relationship and the developmental perspective for future research of POP were also explored and discussed. The current review would provide a valuable research foundation and the up-to-date information for the future development and application of POP in the field of the functional foods and medicine.

A review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and potential uses of Portulaca oleracea L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), popularly known as purslane, has been documented in ethnopharmacology in various countries and regions. Traditional application records indicated that PO might be used extensively to treat the common cold, dysentery, urinary tract infections, coughing, eye infections, skin problems, gynecological diseases, and pediatric illnesses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper includes a systematic review of the traditional usage, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity, and potential uses of PO to provide an overview of the research for further exploitation of PO resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article uses "Portulaca oleracea L." and "purslane" as the keywords and collects relevant information on PO from different databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, ACS, Wiley, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and ancient meteria medica.

RESULTS

PO is a member of the Portulacaceae family and is grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that purslane has the effect of improving eyesight, eliminating evil qi, quenching thirst, purgation, diuresis, hemostasis, regulating qi, promoting hair growth, detoxifying, and avoiding epidemic qi. Recent phytochemical investigations have shown that PO is a rich source of flavonoids, homoisoflavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, esters, lignans, terpenoids, catecholamines, sterols, and cerebrosides. The purslane extracts or compounds have exhibited numerous biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, metabolic, muscle relaxant, anti-asthmatic and anti-osteoporosis properties. The significant omega-3 fatty acids, vital amino acids, minerals, and vitamins found in purslane also provide nutritional benefits. Purslane as a food/feed additive in the food industry and animal husbandry has caused concern. Its global wide distribution and tolerance to abiotic stress characteristics make it in the future sustainable development of agriculture a certain position.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on traditional usage, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activity, PO is a potential medicinal and edible plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to purslane's various advantages, it may have vast application potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries and animal husbandry.

Infestation of Portulaca oleracea (Portulacaceae) plants by Neotuerta platensis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae in Brazil: evaluations for five consecutive years

Abstract The bioecology and infestation aspects of Neotuerta platensis Berg, 1882 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on plants are poorly known. This insect fed on the leaves of common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae) for two consecutive years, which triggered its study in the following five years in Januária, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The objective of this work was to study the bioecology and infestation aspects of N. platensis on P. oleracea plants in the field and laboratory. The mean duration (± SD) of the egg, larva and pupa stages was 3.6 ± 0.89, 11.5 ± 2.81 and 10.7 ± 1.97 days, respectively. The mean numbers of egg masses and eggs per female (± SD) were 3.8 ± 1.16 and 891.6 ± 116.83, respectively. The percentage of infested plants was 59, 74, 0, 78 and 75% and the mean numbers of larvae per plant (± SD) ranged from 0.7 ± 0.45 to 1.6 ± 0.49 individuals, respectively from 2015 to 2019. Neotuerta platensis larvae infested P. oleracea plants in four out of five years evaluated.

A new alkaloid and two organic acids from Portulaca oleracea L. and their bioactivities

A new alkaloid, identified as 1-benzyl-2-nitroso-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol, named oleraisoquinoline (1), and five organic acids and two esters, identified as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (2), 1H-pyrrole-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (3), (7E,10E)-octadeca-7,10-dienoic acid (4), (10E,13E)-octadeca-10,13-dienoic acid (5), (7E,10E)-hexadeca-7,10-dienoic acid (6), methyl tridecanoate (7) and methyl (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoate (8), were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., among which compounds 2 and 4‒7 were isolated for the first time. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1‒3 were studied, especially, compound 1 presented good inhibitory effects on the production of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α.

Portulaca Oleracea L. (Purslane) Extract Protects Endothelial Function by Reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Oxidative Stress through AMPK Activation in Diabetic Obese Mice

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a food and a traditional drug worldwide. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, and anti-diabetic bioactivities; but its activity on diabetic-associated endothelial dysfunction is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of purslane on endothelial function and the underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice had 14-week ad libitum access to a high-fat rodent diet containing 60% kcal% fat to induce obesity and diabetes whereas purslane extract (200 mg/kg/day) was administered during the last 4 weeks via intragastric gavage. Primary rat aortic endothelial cells and isolated mouse aortas were cultured with a risk factor, high glucose or tunicamycin, together with purslane extract. By ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, flavonoids and their glycoside products were identified in the purslane extract. Exposure to high glucose or tunicamycin impaired acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in aortas and induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress with the downregulation of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling. Co-incubation with purslane significantly ameliorated these impairments. The effects of purslane were abolished by Compound C (AMPK inhibitor). Four-week purslane treatment ameliorated aortic relaxations, ER stress, and oxidative stress in diabetic obese mice. This study supported that purslane protected endothelial function, and inhibited ER stress and oxidative stress in vasculature through AMPK/eNOS activation, revealing its therapeutic potential against vascular complications in diabetes.

The effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on glycemic indices: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Although several studies have revealed the benefits of purslane on glycemic indices, the results of some studies reject such effect. Therefore, aim of this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to assess the effects of purslane supplementation on glycemic indices. Scientific international databases as Scopus, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched up to December 2022. For net changes in glycemic indices, weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated using random-effects models. Purslane supplementation had a statistically significant reduction in fasting blood glucose [FBG, WMD: -6.37; 95% CI: -9.34, -3.40, p < 0.001]. In addition, purslane did not significant effect on serum levels of insulin [WMD: -0.74; 95% CI: -2.58, 1.10; p = 0.430], homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR, WMD: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.88, 0.37, p = 0.429], and QUICKI [WMD: -0.01; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.03, p = 0.317] compared with the control group. The results of our meta-analysis revealed a beneficial effect of purslane supplementation as a tool to decrease FBG levels, but not to HOMA-IR, insulin, and QUICKI levels. However, future high-quality, long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

High-throughput screening and quantification of pesticides in Lilii Bulbus using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Lilii Bulbus is a notable flower in Chinese cuisine, and has also been used as a Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. This work presents an analytical method for rapidly screening multiple pesticide residues in Lilii Bulbus using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). For sample pre-treatment, the QuEChERS method is employed, and targeted MS/MS is adopted for data acquisition. Moreover, a database containing 515 pesticides with accurate mass database and a high-resolution fragment ion spectrum library is established in this work. In addition, the qualitative and quantitative results of the screening method are validated. The results show that within the linear concentration range of 2 to 200 μg L-1, for each pesticide, 89.3% of the pesticides exhibit linear correlation coefficients R2 equal to or exceeding 0.990. The limit of quantification for all pesticides is below 50 μg kg-1. With a recovery of 70% to 120% and RSD ≤ 20% as the satisfactory standards, 387 (75.0%), 411 (79.7%) and 420 (81.4%) pesticides meet the standards at the three addition levels of 10 μg kg-1, 20 μg kg-1, and 100 μg kg-1, respectively. By utilizing the proposed method, pesticide residues in 100 samples are investigated, providing scientific data to ensure the safety of pesticide residues and demonstrating the general applicability of the method for routine monitoring of pesticide residues in Lilii Bulbus.

Innovative Bioactive Nanofibrous Materials Combining Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Extracts and Electrospinning Method

Since antiquity, humans have known about plants as a medicinal cure. Recently, plant extracts are attracting more attention as a result of their natural origin and wide range of desirable features. Nanotechnology's progress and innovations enable the production of novel materials with enhanced properties for a broad range of applications. Electrospinning is a cutting-edge, flexible and economical technique that allows the creation of continuous nano- and microfibrous membranes with tunable structure, characteristics and functionalities. Electrospun fibrous materials are used in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, cosmetics, food packaging, agriculture and other fields due to their useful properties such as a large surface area to volume ratio and high porosity with small pore size. By encapsulating plant extracts in a suitable polymer matrix, electrospinning can increase the medicinal potential of these extracts, thus improving their bioavailability and maintaining the required concentration of bioactive compounds at the target site. Moreover, the created hybrid fibrous materials could possess antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make the obtained structures attractive for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. This review summarizes the known approaches that have been applied to fabricate fibrous materials loaded with diverse plant extracts by electrospinning. Some potential applications of the extract-containing micro- and nanofibers such as wound dressings, drug delivery systems, scaffolds for tissue engineering and active food packaging systems are discussed.

A review of the bioactive properties of Mongolian plants, with a focus on their potential as natural food preservatives

Consumers have recently preferred food that is easy to make and of excellent quality, as well as food that is safe, natural, and minimally processed, but has a longer shelf life. Food deteriorates over time as a result of microbiological, chemical, or physical changes. Phytochemicals derived from medicinal and food plants have long been recognized for their biological activity to protect plants. These bioactivities are designed to increase the shelf life of food while inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. The use of natural plant food preservatives containing bioactive compounds as health-promoting agents is particularly intriguing. Furthermore, due to their effectiveness against food spoilage and foodborne pathogens, natural plant-origin antimicrobial compounds have been investigated as alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial compounds for preserving food quality. This review focused on the plant composition and properties that can be utilized as a natural food preservative, as well as the possibilities of using Mongolian medicinal plants.

Therapeutic effects of medicinal plants and their constituents on lung cancer, in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence

The most common type of cancer in the world is lung cancer. Traditional treatments have an important role in cancer therapy. In the present review, the most recent findings on the effects of medicinal plants and their constituents or natural products (NP) in treating lung cancer are discussed. Empirical studies until the end of March 2022 were searched using the appropriate keywords through the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus. The extracts and essential oils tested were all shown to effect lung cancer by several mechanisms including decreased tumour weight and volume, cell viability and modulation of cytokine. Some plant constituents increased expression of apoptotic proteins, the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase and subG0/G1 phase, and Cyt c levels. Also, natural products (NP) activate apoptotic pathways in lung cancer cell including p-JNK, Akt/mTOR, PI3/ AKT\ and Bax, Bcl2, but suppressed AXL phosphorylation. Plant-derived substances altered the cell morphology, reduced cell migration and metastasis, oxidative marker production, p-eIF2α and GRP78, IgG, IgM levels and reduced leukocyte counts, LDH, GGT, 5'NT and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Therefore, medicinal plant extracts and their constituents could have promising therapeutic value for lung cancer, especially if used in combination with ordinary anti-cancer drugs.

Phytochemical Characteristics and Anti-Inflammatory, Immunoregulatory, and Antioxidant Effects of Portulaca oleracea L.: A Comprehensive Review

Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea) or purslane is a plant from the Portulacaceae family, which is used as food and traditional medicine for various diseases. This review article provides comprehensive information on the antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties of P. oleracea and its constituents. The literature survey of the different databases until the end of June 2023 was explored based on the keywords including the "P. oleracea, purslane, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties." The plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and some other compounds. The results indicated that P. oleracea and its constituents showed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties through reduction of inflammatory mediators including interferon gama (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nitric oxide. Improvement in cytokines' serum levels (IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-4) and increased IgG and IgM serum levels, as well as reduction of IgE, phospholipase A2, and total protein were demonstrated for P. oleracea. The plant and its constituents also improved oxidative stress by reduction of oxidant and increase of antioxidant markers. P. oleracea could be considered as an effective remedy for various inflammatory and immune diseases.

HM-chromanone alleviates hyperglycemia and inflammation in mice with endotoxin-induced insulin resistance

This study was designed to investigate whether (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone alleviates inflammation and hyperglycemia in mice with endotoxin-induced insulin resistance. (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg bodyweight) was orally pre-administered to C57BL/6 J mice. An hour later, lipopolysaccharides (20 mg/kg bodyweight) was administered intraperitoneally to induce endotoxins. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of the mice every 0, 30, and 90 min. The results indicated that (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone effectively regulated blood glucose levels in mice with endotoxin-induced insulin resistance. Furthermore, (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone significantly reduced the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, and protein kinase C θ. Additionally, (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone suppressed the phosphorylation of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase and IkB kinase β, thereby decreasing the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B α and activating the nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1 in the liver. Therefore, the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β was significantly reduced by suppressing the nuclear factor-κB and activator protein 1 activity. Suppression of mammalian target of rapamycin, S6 kinase 1, protein kinase C θ, c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase, and IkB kinase β also ameliorated insulin resistance by reducing the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 serine 307, thereby decreasing hyperglycemia. These findings suggest that (E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone can alleviate hyperglycemia and inflammation in mice with endotoxin-induced insulin resistance.

Inhibitory effect of Portulaca oleracea L. aqueous extract and juice on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in an ulcerative colitis mouse model

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) is an edible and medicinal plant used for treating gastrointestinal diseases. However, the effects of PO on ulcerative colitis (UC) and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of PO aqueous extract (POE) and PO juice (PJ) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in a mouse model and attempted to unravel their underlying mechanisms. The results revealed that PJ contains more bioactive compounds and has more overlapping targets with UC than POE. Both POE and PJ effectively reduced Disease Activity Index scores and inflammatory cell infiltration in the UC mouse model, but PJ had a better effect than POE. Furthermore, PJ inhibited pyroptosis by decreasing the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, while also repairing the dysfunction of the intestinal barrier by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins. Therefore, based on the study findings, we concluded that PJ can improve DSS-induced UC and may suppress pyroptosis by interfering with the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Purslane-induced oxalate nephropathy: case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

The kidney is particularly vulnerable to toxins due to its abundant blood supply, active tubular reabsorption, and medullary interstitial concentration. Currently, calcium phosphate-induced and calcium oxalate-induced nephropathies are the most common crystalline nephropathies. Hyperoxaluria may lead to kidney stones and progressive kidney disease due to calcium oxalate deposition leading to oxalate nephropathy. Hyperoxaluria can be primary or secondary. Primary hyperoxaluria is an autosomal recessive disease that usually develops in childhood, whereas secondary hyperoxaluria is observed following excessive oxalate intake or reduced excretion, with no difference in age of onset. Oxalate nephropathy may be overlooked, and the diagnosis is often delayed or missed owning to the physician's inadequate awareness of its etiology and pathogenesis. Herein, we discuss the pathogenesis of hyperoxaluria with two case reports, and our report may be helpful to make appropriate treatment plans in clinical settings in the future.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report two cases of acute kidney injury, which were considered to be due to oxalate nephropathy in the setting of purslane (portulaca oleracea) ingestion. The two patients were elderly and presented with oliguria, nausea, vomiting, and clinical manifestations of acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. One patient underwent an ultrasound-guided renal biopsy, which showed acute tubulointerstitial injury and partial tubular oxalate deposition. Both patients underwent hemodialysis and were discharged following improvement in creatinine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report illustrates two cases of acute oxalate nephropathy in the setting of high dietary consumption of purslane. If a renal biopsy shows calcium oxalate crystals and acute tubular injury, oxalate nephropathy should be considered and the secondary causes of hyperoxaluria should be eliminated.

Preparation of metal-organic framework combined with Portulaca oleracea L. extract electrostatically spun nanofiber membranes delayed release wound dressing

In this study, we prepared a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite nanofiber membrane comprising Portulaca oleracea L. extract (POE) and a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) by an in situ growth method as a potentially new type of wound dressing with a slow drug-release effect, to solve the problem of the burst release of drugs in wound dressings. The effects of the MOF and POE doping on the nanofiber membranes were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR spectroscopy. SEM analysis revealed the dense and uniform attachment of MOF particles to the surface of the nanofiber membrane, while FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful fusion of MOF and POE. Furthermore, investigations into the water contact angle and swelling property demonstrated that the incorporation of the MOF and POE enhanced the hydrophilicity of the material. The results of the in vitro release test showed that the cumulative release rate for PAN/MOF/POE60 decreased from 66.5 ± 2.34% to 32.18 ± 1.31% in the initial 4 h and from 90.54 ± 0.79% to 65.92 ± 1.95% in 72 h compared to PAN/POE, indicating a slowing down of the drug release. In addition, the antimicrobial properties of the fiber membranes were evaluated by the disc diffusion method, and it was evident that the PAN/MOF/POE nanofibers exhibited strong inhibition against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The antioxidant properties of the nanofiber membranes loaded with POE were further validated through the DPPH radical scavenging test. These findings highlight the potential application of the developed nanofiber membranes in wound dressings, offering controlled and sustained drug-release capabilities.

Protective Effects of Different Molecular Weights of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Aqueous Extract on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice

Purslane, a common wild vegetable, contains active substances with various biological functions. However, its effects have been under-investigated in ulcerative colitis (UC). Therefore, this study investigated the therapeutic effects of purslane macromolecular (POEM) and small molecular extracts (POES) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice. Membrane separation was used to obtain extracts of different molecular weights, and their compositional differences were compared using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). POEM contained more proteins and polysaccharides, whereas POES contained more organic acids and alkaloids. These differences in composition were directly responsible for the different degrees of remission of the alleviated UC in model mice. POEM may alleviate UC by regulating the antioxidant capacity and the gut microbiota, whereas the major alleviatory effect of POES was primarily related to the regulation of antioxidant capacity. The POEM and POES effects identified in this study provide a theoretical basis for the development of purslane as a functional food.

Genetic Authentication of the Medicinal Plant Portulaca oleracea Using a Quick, Precise, and Sensitive Isothermal DNA Amplification Assay

Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a commonly known medicinal crop that is an important ingredient for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its use as a vegetable in the diet. PO has been recorded to be frequently adulterated by other related species in the market of herbal plants, distorting the PO plant identity. Thus, identification of the botanical origin of PO is a crucial step before pharmaceutical or functional food application. In this research, a quick assay named "loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)" was built for the specific and sensitive authentication of PO DNA. On the basis of the divergences in the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence between PO and its adulterant species, the LAMP primers were designed and verified their specificity, sensitivity, and application for the PO DNA authentication. The detection limit of the LAMP assay for PO DNA identification specifically was 100 fg under isothermal conditions at 63 °C for 30 min. In addition, different heat-processed PO samples can be applied for use in PO authentication in the LAMP assay. These samples of PO were more susceptible to the effect of steaming in authentication by PCR than boiling and drying treatment. Furthermore, commercial PO samples pursued from herbal markets were used to display their applicability of the developed LAMP analysis for PO postharvest authentication, and the investigation found that approximately 68.4% of PO specimens in the marketplace of herbal remedies were adulterated. In summary, the specific, sensitive, and rapid LAMP assay for PO authentication was first successfully developed herein, and its practical application for the inspection of adulteration in PO samples from the herbal market was shown. This LAMP assay created in this study will be useful to authenticate the botanical origin of PO and its commercial products.

Extraction, Purification, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activity and Application of Polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane): A Review

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant with a long history of cultivation and consumption. Notably, polysaccharides obtained from purslane exhibit surprising and satisfactory biological activities, which explain the various benefits of purslane on human health, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, antifatigue, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. This article systematically reviews the extraction and purification methods, chemical structure, chemical modification, biological activity and other aspects of polysaccharides from purslane collected in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Flora of China, Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar and CNKI databases in the last 14 years, using the keywords "Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharides" and "purslane polysaccharides". The application of purslane polysaccharides in different fields is also summarized, and its application prospects are also discussed. This paper provides an updated and deeper understanding of purslane polysaccharides, which will provide useful guidance for the further optimization of polysaccharide structures and the development of purslane polysaccharides as a novel functional material, as well as a theoretical basis for its further research and application in human health and manufacturing development.

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) improves the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and autophagic actions of metformin in the hippocampus of diabetic demented rats

Great body of evidence links cognitive decline to diabetes/insulin resistance. In this study the effect of Portulaca oleracea (PUR) (100 mg/kg), Metformin (MET) (200 mg/kg), a first line diabetes mellitus type 2 therapy, and their combination on cognitive function and hippocampal markers in diabetic rats were assessed. Male rats were injected with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg on two successive weeks) followed by 4 weeks of treatment. Possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy enhancing mechanisms of these drugs were investigated in the hippocampal tissue using spectrophotometry, ELISA, and western blotting. Diabetic rats suffered significant cognitive impairment in Morris's water maze, hippocampal TBARS elevation, GSH depletion, and SOD upregulation. In addition, diabetes promoted the secretion of hippocampal inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β, and depleted anti-inflammatory cytokines as IL-10. Such detrimental changes were reversed by MET and/or PUR. Notably, AMPK was upregulated by diabetes, then restored to normal by MET and/or PUR. The pattern of change in AMPK expression was concomitant with changes in oxidative and inflammatory burden. Hence, AMPK is believed to be a key mediator in most of the measured pre-AD markers in this study. However, from our results, PUR is believed to have non-AMPK dependent actions as well. In conclusion, antidiabetic agents as metformin and purslane extract proved to be invaluable in addressing the cognitive decline and hippocampal changes that arise as a complication of diabetes. They mainly acted through AMPK pathway; however, their usefulness was not limited to AMPK pathways since their combination was suggested to have a different mechanism.

The effects of purslane consumption on glycemic control and oxidative stress: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a herbal remedy with wide range of pharmaceutic properties. Although the beneficial effect of purslane on the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been shown, there is an inconsistency among the results of previous studies. Therefore, this study is aimed at conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of purslane on glycemic profile and oxidative stress markers. A systematic search was performed in the Scopus, Web of science, PubMed and the Cochrane Library to find articles related to the effect of the purslane on Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin resistance, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) up to September 2022. Among the 611 initial studies that were identified from searching electronic databases, 16 Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) involving 1122 participants (557 cases and 565 controls) were included for data analysis. The results of random-effects modeling demonstrated that purslane consumption significantly reduced FBS (p < .001), MDA (p < .001) and increased TAC (p < .001). However, purslane consumption did not affect HbA1c (p < .109), fasting insulin (p = .298) and HOMA-IR (p = .382). Meta-analyses were performed using both the random- and fixed-effects model where appropriate, and I 2 index was used to evaluate the heterogeneity. This meta-analysis study suggests that purslane has beneficial effects on oxidative stress markers and glycemic parameter. Therefore, it may be a promising adjuvant therapy in T2DM because of its benefits and negligible adverse effects.

Network pharmacology based research into the effect and potential mechanism of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharide against ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) as a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has received extensive concerns worldwide. As a traditional herbal medicine, Portulaca oleracea L. (POL) has a wide application in gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery. This study aims to investigate the target and potential mechanisms of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharide (POL-P) in the treatment of UC.

METHOD

The active ingredients and relevant targets of POL-P were searched through the TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction databases. UC related targets were collected through the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. The intersection of POL-P targets with UC targets was done using Venny. Then, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the intersection targets was constructed through the STRING database and analyzed using Cytohubba to identify the key targets of POL-P in the treatment of UC. In addition, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the key targets and the binding mode of POL-P to the key targets was further analyzed by molecular docking technology. Finally, the efficacy and target of POL-P were verified using animal experiments and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

A total of 316 targets were obtained based on POL-P monosaccharide structures, among which 28 were related to UC. Cytohubba analysis showed that VEGFA, EGFR, TLR4, IL-1β, STAT3, IL-2, PTGS2, FGF2, HGF, and MMP9 were the key targets for UC treatment and were mainly involved in multiple signaling pathways such as proliferation, inflammation, and immune response. Molecular docking results revealed that POL-P had a good binding potential to TLR4. In vivo validation results showed that POL-P significantly reduced the overexpression of TLR4 and its downstream key proteins (MyD88 and NF-κB) in intestinal mucosa of UC mice, which indicated that POL-P improved UC by mediating TLR4 related proteins.

CONCLUSION

POL-P may be a potential therapeutic agent for UC and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of TLR4 protein. This study will provide novel insights for the treatment of UC with POL-P.

Probiotic-fermented Portulaca oleracea L. alleviated DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Probiotic fermentation is a mild and safe biological method to boost the performance of herbs. Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), with folklore records of purgative, anti-dermatological and anti-epidemic effects, has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. However, the potential of PO for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been sufficiently explored.

AIM OF STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of PO and fermented Portulaca oleracea L. (FPO) and explore their intrinsic mechanisms.

METHODS

By utilizing 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced AD mice as a model, the histopathology of the lesions was observed using H&E and toluidine blue staining methods; the levels of immunoglobulin E (Ig E), histamine (HIS), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in serum were measured using ELISA, whereas, the expression of inflammatory cytokines in skin lesion was measured using ELISA and immunohistochemistry experiments. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IKKα, NF-κB mRNA was measured using qPCR; and the expression of TNF-α、p-IKKα, p-IκBα, p-NF-κB was measured using western blotting.

RESULTS

Both 20 mg/mL PO and FPO alleviated mast cell infiltration and lesion pathology, reduced serum levels of Ig E, HIS and TSLP, down-regulated the expression of AD-related inflammatory cytokines, such as, TNF-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-4, and increased filaggrin expression. Furthermore, they inhibited the expression of TNF-α, IKKα, and NF-κB genes and TNF-α, p-IKKα, p-NF-κB and p-IκBα proteins associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

PO and FPO has a positive therapeutic potential on AD, indicating that it may be employed as alternative therapies for AD.

Functions and interaction of plant lipid signalling under abiotic stresses

Lipids are the primary form of energy storage and a major component of plasma membranes, which form the interface between the cell and the extracellular environment. Several lipids - including phosphoinositide, phosphatidic acid, sphingolipids, lysophospholipids, oxylipins, and free fatty acids - also serve as substrates for the generation of signalling molecules. Abiotic stresses, such as drought and temperature stress, are known to affect plant growth. In addition, abiotic stresses can activate certain lipid-dependent signalling pathways that control the expression of stress-responsive genes and contribute to plant stress adaptation. Many studies have focused either on the enzymatic production and metabolism of lipids, or on the mechanisms of abiotic stress response. However, there is little information regarding the roles of plant lipids in plant responses to abiotic stress. In this review, we describe the metabolism of plant lipids and discuss their involvement in plant responses to abiotic stress. As such, this review provides crucial background for further research on the interactions between plant lipids and abiotic stress.

Two new natural products from Portulaca oleracea L. and their bioactivities

Two new natural products, belonging to alkaloids, identified as ((2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1(2H)-yl)-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl acetate (1) and (5-hydroxypyridin-2-yl)methyl acetate (2), were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. The structures were identified by spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR, and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS methods. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase bioactivities were found in these two compounds.

Modulation of Immune-Related Gene Expressions in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Dietary Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Extract

To promote fish's immunity against pathogens in the aquaculture industry, fish dietary fortification with additives or compounds has increasingly attracted attention. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as an animal model to investigate the effects of purslane, Portulaca oleracea, extract (PE) on the relative expression level of some immune-related genes. A total of 300 zebrafish were randomly divided into four treatment groups and fed for 8 weeks with the basal diets supplemented with 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% of PE. The control group was fed with a basal diet without PE. At the end of 8 weeks, the mRNA expression levels of interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), interleukin 10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LYZ) in the fish were evaluated. The results showed that the mRNA expression level of IL-1β was significantly upregulated in the fish fed with 1 and 2% PE compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the evaluation of the mRNA expression level of TGF-β was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner in the 1.5 and 2% fed groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, the IL-10 was significantly downregulated in all treated groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The expression of the TNF-α gene was not affected amongst all groups by the inclusion of PE in the zebrafish diet (p > 0.05). Based on the results, the diet supplemented with 1.5 and 2% PE significantly upregulated the mRNA expression levels of LYZ and SOD, respectively, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of PE may result in beneficial effects on some immune responses via upregulation of some immune genes in zebrafish.