Abstract

A REVIEW ON TRADITIONAL HERB PORTULACA OLERACEA

*Samala Sangeetha, R. Shireesh Kiran, M. Pharm., (PhD), Dr. Konde Abbulu, M. Pharm., Ph. D and Dr. Sowjanya Battu, M. Pharm., Ph. D

Abstract

The plant Portulaca oleracea is used as medicinal herb atleast 2000 years ago and it is also used as food before this period. Portulaca oleracea belongs to the family Portulacea, which is an annual herb. Its origin is unsure but archeobotanical findings are very common at many prehistoric sites. The plant approximately contains 30 different biological activites and over 60 medicinal indications. Portulaca oleracea is mentioned as alternative system of medicine because all parts of plant such as roots, stem, leaves, seeds posses the medicinal properties. It is a common herb used as vegetable. It‟s vernacular name is Purslane, Hog weed, Kurfa, Andrachni, Baralunia etc. It has round, smooth, procum bent succulent stem, growing about 6 inches high with small oblong, wedge shaped dark green leaves, thick stalked and clustered together, flowers bloom in june and july which are yellow in colour. Portulaca oleracea is distributed all over the world and native of many parts of Europe, India, China, Japan etc. The plant is rich in Flavanoids, Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Organic acids, Vitamins, Minerals which are present in different parts of the plant such as stem, leaves, roots, seeds it is proved by qualitative phytochemical extract pf plant by using different solvents. The plant Portulaca oleracea is reported to posses the multifaceted biological activities such as anti-ulcerogenic activity, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, antidiabetic activity, anticonvulsant activity, antitussive effect, hepatoprotective activity, anti-inflammatory activity etc., It also posses the antiimplantation and abortifacient properties, bronchodilator property etc. The plant Portulaca oleracea is use in since antiquity in Unani medicines for treating various ailments such as skin diseases, fever, dysentery, bleeding piles, spleen diseases etc. Moreover now-a-days Portulaca oleracea is using in cosmetics. The present review is an aspire to outline the recent knowledge of significant traditional uses, pharmacological activies, pharmacognostic and phytochemical study of plant Portulaca oleracea.

Keywords: Vernacular names, Phytochemical constituents, Pharmacological activities, cosmetics, Unani.