Purslane, also called Portulaca oleracea, is plants consider a weed in the United States and it is found in most gardens. Believed to have come from a desert in North Africa, it has aggravated gardeners around the world because it can be rather invasive. It spreads out before it gets taller, so it can cover quite a bit of ground. Also known as little hogweed, verdolaga, common purslane, portulaca, and parsley, purslane adds a somewhat tangy note to soups and stir-fries, and its juicy leaves can be used to add texture to salads. It is a wild-growing succulent plant that is also completely edible, and it’s delicious, too. Apart from culinary facets, it is also an all-around healthy food that contains a whole range of health-boosting nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, and minerals. Cupcake Peachy Purslane, Pazzazz Deep Pink Purslane, Pazzazz Salmon Glow Purslane are a few of the popular varieties of Purslane that are grown worldwide.

Purslane Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Portulaca oleracea

Plant

Purslane is a green, leafy vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. It is a succulent annual trailing plant sized 40 centimeters (16 in) in height. It prefers comparatively less water and soil nutrients and grows well in sunny climates and can thrive in all soil types. It is often found thriving in the cracks of sidewalks and driveways even during summer’s heat. It often pops up in container gardens, flowerbeds, gardens, fields, waste ground, and roadside. Purslane plant has a taproot with fibrous secondary roots and is able to tolerate poor compacted soils and drought and fleshy or watery, smooth, reddish-green to purplish-red stem repeatedly branched and often forming circular mats 30-60 cm (1-2 ft) in diameter or larger. Leaves are small, oblong, wedge-shaped, and dark green colored. Flowers are small, yellow, solitary or clustered, stalkless, placed above the last leaves on the branches, and are up to 6 millimeters (0.24 in) wide, and are found blooming during June and July. Flowers later produce small green, egg, or a pear-shaped seed capsule that consists of nearly oval seeds that are wrinkled, and black with a whitish scar at one end.

Leaves

Purslane is best known as an invasive weed and is a wild-growing succulent plant, completely edible, and it’s delicious, too. This succulent plant contains about 93% water. It has red stems and small, green leaves that are extremely delicious. Leaves are small, oblong, wedge-shaped, thick and stalked, clustered together, and are between 1/4 inch and 1 inch long, and 1/16 – 1/2 inch wide and are dark green colored. It has a slightly sour or salty taste, similar to spinach and watercress, and adds a slightly tangy note to soups and stir-fries, and its juicy leaves can be used to add texture to salads. It can be used in many of the same ways as spinach and lettuce, such as in salads or sandwiches. Apart from that Purslane leaves also consists of a whole range of health-boosting nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, and minerals that are extremely essential for promoting our health.

Purslane is a very good source of alpha-linolenic acid. Alpha-linolenic is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays an important role in human growth and development and in preventing diseases. Purslane has been shown to contain five times higher omega-3 fatty acids than spinach. Omega-3 fatty acids belong to a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for human growth, development, prevention of numerous cardiovascular diseases, and maintenance of a healthy immune system [7]. Our bodies do not synthesize omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore omega-3 fatty acids must be consumed from a dietary source. Omega-3 fatty acids contain 18 to 24 carbon atoms and have three or more double bonds within their fatty acid chain [8]. Fish is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids. Health authorities highly recommend that we consume fish regularly to meet our bodies’ requirements of omega-3 fatty acids, as other sources are limited and do not supply nearly as much omega-3 fatty acids [9]. Purslane has recently been identified as the richest vegetable source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid [10]. The lack of dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids has resulted in a growing level of interest to introduce purslane as a new cultivated vegetable [11, 12]. Purslane flourishes in numerous biogeographical locations worldwide and is highly adaptable to many adverse conditions such as drought, saline, and nutrient-deficient conditions [13].

Distribution. It is reported that purslane was a common vegetable of the Roman Empire. The origin of purslane is not certain, but the existence of this plant is reported about 4,000 years ago. The succulent stems and fleshy leaves of purslane reflect that it may have originated and adapted to desert climates of the Middle East and India. It can be found in Europe, Africa, North America, Australia, and Asia [14].

Botanical Classification. Portulaca oleracea is s cosmopolitan species and the genus Portulaca belongs to the family Portulacaceae, a small family with 21 genera and 580 species, and is cosmopolitan in distribution, occurring especially in America with some species found in Arabia [15]. Purslane plants are succulent, annual herbaceous, and erector decumbent up to 30 cm high. Purslane is botanically known as Portulaca oleracea and is also called portulaca.

Habitat. It grows well in orchards, vineyards, crop fields, landscaped areas, gardens, roadsides, and other disturbed sites.

Stem. Stems are cylindrical, up to 30 cm long, 2-3 mm in diameter, green or red, swollen at the nodes, smooth, glabrous apart from the leaf axils, and diffusely branched, and the internodes are 1.5–3.5 cm in length.

Seedling. Cotyledons (seed leaves) are egg-shaped to oblong, hairless, succulent, about 2–5 mm long, and sometimes tinged red.

Flower. Flowering initiates from May to September. Flowers originate as single or clusters of two to five at the tips of stems. The flowers are minute or small having orange-yellow, purple, or white pink color with five petals, and typically open only on hot and sunny days from mid-morning to early afternoon.

Fruit. The fruit consists of almost round to egg-shaped capsules, usually about 4–8 mm long that open around the middle to release the seeds. Seeds are tiny, less than 1 mm in diameter, circular to egg-shaped, flattened, and brown to black with a white point of attachment. Numerous seeds are produced.

History

Purslane is an annual plant that is native to Persia, Africa, and India. It grows from late spring until early fall.  It was brought to Europe during the 8th century by Arabs who used it as a salad herb. From Europe, the plant spread into the United States as well as Central and South America. Now it is most abundant in the eastern states, including Florida, and least common in the Pacific Northwest. It is grown throughout the world due to its health-promoting nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and due to its tangy and delightful taste.

Nutritional Value

Apart from their slightly sour or salty taste purslane is a good source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Consuming 43 grams of purslane offers 0.86 mg of iron,9 mg of Vitamin C, 29 mg of Magnesium,0.13 mg of Manganese,0.049 mg of Copper,212 mg of Potassium, 0.048 mg of Vitamin B2, 28 mg of Calcium, and 19 mg of Phosphorus.

Health benefits of Purslane

Purslane has been utilized for thousands of years. Today, it really is utilized in salads, soups, along with other dishes. It is a fantastic way to include additional taste to the dish without significantly enhancing the calorie or even fat content of the meal. Although many people just use purslane due to its slightly tangy taste within their dishes, there are a number of other main reasons why purslane needs to be consumed. Listed are some popular health benefits of consuming purslane:

1. Cancer Prevention

Cancer has become one of the most widespread and tragic diseases in the world, so many anti-carcinogenic food items are greatly admired. Purslane is also one of the best anti-carcinogenic food items that have a significant amount of vitamin C and vitamin A, both of which act as antioxidants to prevent certain cancers, especially lung and oral cancers. Apart from that, purslane also contains betalain pigment compounds that give the plant its characteristic yellow and red coloring. Beta-cyanins and beta-xanthins have been connected with anti-mutagenic effects in the body, meaning they prevent free radicals from causing mutations in healthy cells, therefore helping to prevent the development of cancer.(1)

2. Prevent Headaches including Migraines

Vitamin B2 present in purslane is a proven option for dealing with painful migraine headaches. Physicians normally recommend riboflavin in high doses of 400 mg. as a preventive treatment for headaches or as a cure for those who frequently experience serious migraine attacks.

Supplementing with vitamin B2 rich food has been shown to be a natural headache remedy and to reduce the frequency of migraines, plus it may help decrease symptoms and pain during a migraine, as well as to shorten the duration.

3. Child Development

Although several pieces of research are still ongoing, earlier studies have revealed that high levels of omega-3s in young children lead to a decrease in certain developmental disorders, like autism, ADHD, and other issues that affect millions of children across the world. Therefore including omega 3s rich food in your regular diet helps to reduce all these development disorders in children.(2)

4. Strong Bones

Purslane consists of a wide range of minerals which make it a healthy choice for people who want to protect their bones. Iron, calcium, magnesium, and manganese are all elements that are essential to develop bone tissue and speed the healing process of the bones in our body. This can help you prevent osteoporosis, a common age-related condition that affects millions of people.(3)

5. Heart Health

Purslane consists of very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which are extensively considered the best source for these beneficial fatty acids. Omega-3s help to decrease the amount of “bad” cholesterol in the body and promote a healthier cholesterol balance in our bloodstream. Frequent consumption of foods that are high in omega-3s has been shown to considerably decrease cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, thus preventing heart attacks and strokes. Apart from that, the potassium found in purslane help to reduce blood pressure due to its behavior as a vasodilator, meaning that it relaxes blood vessels and reduces strain on the heart.(4)

6. Vision Booster

Vitamin A and beta-carotene present in purslane have both been connected to eye health and vision for many years. Purslane can help to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts by eliminating free radicals that attack the cells of the eye and cause these commonly age-related diseases. Including purslane in your diet is essential to get better vision.(5)

7. Speeds up Wound Healing

Purslane consists of Iron that plays an important role in speeding up the process of wound healing. It helps in the formation of RBCs, the most essential constituent of hemoglobin that transports oxygen around the body. Without the proper supply of oxygen wound, healing cannot take place. Purslane consists of 0.86 mg of iron which is 10.75% of the daily recommended value.

8. Gastrointestinal Diseases

Purslane is one of the best options widely used to treat everything from diarrhea and intestinal bleeding to hemorrhoids and dysentery. Although most of western medicine does not confirm these findings, purslane is still used for a wide variety of intestinal conditions. These benefits are mainly attributed due to the presence of so many beneficial organic compounds found in purslane, like dopamine, malic acid, citric acid, alanine, glucose, and many others.

9. Improved Circulation

The high content of iron and copper in purslane helps to stimulate the production of red blood cells. Both of these minerals are important for boosting circulation, which means more oxygen being delivered to essential parts of the body, increased healing speed of cells and organs, increased hair growth, and a general improvement of metabolic efficiency! Therefore it is essential to have purslane in your diet to live a healthy life.(6)

10. Immunity

Vitamin C protects our body from infections and maintains healthy bones and teeth. Apart from that it also improves our body’s ability to repair wounds and keeps us immune from bacteria, viruses, and infection. It is also essential for collagen, the main structural protein found in connective tissue. Vitamin C, when taken orally, helps wounds heal faster and better. Applied topically, it protects the skin from free radical damage from exposure to UV rays.

11. Weight Loss Aid

Since Purslane is very low in calories and nutrient-rich and loaded with dietary fiber. It means people can feel full after a meal of purslane, but they won’t necessarily up their calorie intake by very much, thereby helping people who are struggling to lose weight or maintain their diets. Therefore including purslane on your regular diet is recommended to feel fuller and achieve your weight loss goal.(7)

12. Skin Conditions

Purslane is one of the best alternatives to treat a wide variety of skin conditions. The high levels of vitamin A, along with a mixture of other essential compounds found in this “weed” help to reduce inflammation on bee stings and snake bites when applied topically. Apart from that it can boost the healthy appearance of the skin, reduce wrinkles, and encourage healing of skin cells to remove scars and blemishes when consumed on a regular basis.(8)

13. Thyroid Glands

Purslane consists of copper that plays an important role in ensuring the proper function of the thyroid gland. However, excess copper is a major cause of thyroid malfunction, so you need a very balanced level of copper in the blood, or else hormonal activity will be imbalanced, and you can develop symptoms of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Health Benefits of Purslane Leaves and Plants

1. Cure Appendix
   The main health benefit of purslane plants is in appendicitis treatment. This method is important for you who need to treat your appendicitis without going through any operation. You just need to consume traditional herbs made from purslane plants. The method is a piece of cake, as you can do it by yourself. Firstly you need to prepare some purslane leaves. Mash and squeeze the leaves till it gains some water from the leaves. Mix some water (mineral water), sugar, and honey to the purslane leaves the water. Drink the water a third time a day, then you will relieve the pain from appendicitis.
2. Cure Vaginal Discharge
   Vaginal discharge is a woman’s vital organ that should be treated as soon as possible. As we know, the vaginal discharge symptoms is extremely uncomfortable for a long time. Thus, you need to solve it in any way you can. As a recommendation, you can use the purslane plants to cure it. All you need to do is prepare some purslane leaves,
   mash, and squeeze, and gain the water. Boil the water with egg white and drink it in a hot state.
3. Hepatitis Treatment
   The next benefit of purslane leaves is to cure hepatitis. Hepatitis is a terrible and deathly disease. You can treat hepatitis using the purslane leaves. Boil some purslane leaves with water, drink the water in a cool state every day until you feel better and your skin color change. This is possible since purslane leaves is good to improve liver function.
4. Inflammation and ulceration Treatment
   Skin is mostly experienced inflammation and ulceration that will be annoying for your look. The purslane plants could be your choice to treat them. Properly processed purslane plants will be useful for your health, including relieving inflammation and ulceration. All you have to do is to smooth the purslane leaves, add some salt, and apply it to your skin. And you will solve your skin problem.
5. Cure Ulcers
   Another annoying skin problem is ulcers. It’s not just annoying, but also hurts you, moreover when it festers. To cure fester, you can consume herbs made by purslane plants. How to make it? First, dry the purslane leaves to be tea. boil it, and drink the water routinely until your ulcers dry and disappear.
6. Gastric Treatment
   Gastric or another indigestion can also be cured with the purslane plant. Purslane plant content is good for the stomach.
   To do it, prepare some purslane leaves. Mash it until smooth. And then, you will gain some water from the mashed purslane leaves. Drink the water three times a day, routinely.
7. Relieve Stomach Inflammation
   Just like gastric, stomach inflammation is really possible to attack someone’s digestion. The best way to relieve this kind of inflammation is to use traditional herbs made from purslane. The water gained from the purslane leaves is extremely powerful for stomach health. That’s why it is recommended for you to consume water to relieve your stomach inflammation.
8. Improve Heart Function
   A healthy heart also can be obtained by consuming herbal from purslane leaves routinely. An easy way to gain the herbal is to mash it and add some water to it. After that, filter it to gain only the water, and add some honey to the water. Drink the water routinely every day. You will improve your heart health and prevent any hurt problems.
9. Solve Intestinal Worms
   One of the health benefits of purslane leaves is to cure intestinal worms. As known before, these intestinal worms are generally infecting children. These worms cause nutrients from food to be not optimally absorbed. Consuming purslane leaves help you to terminate the worms, naturally. Hence, food nutrients can be absorbed optimally.
10. Fever Killer 
    If you or someone you know experiences fever, then purslane leaves can be a first aid to relieve it. Drink the water you gain from boiled purslane leaves, it would help to relieve your fever.
11. Solve bloody urine
    Bloody urine is a dangerous health problem that needs to be solved soon. Purslane leaves contain antiinfective contents that will solve the bloody urine. Again, all you need to do is drink the water gained by boiling the purslane leaves, to solve the bloody urine.
12. Have Regular Period Cycle
    the irregular period cycle is one of a woman’s health problems that can be solved with purslane leaves. Drink the water gained from boiling the purslane leaves along your period day and the period cycle will be regular again.
13. Press High Blood Pressure
    High blood pressure also can be pressed by the benefits of purslane leaves. That’w why it is recommended for people with high blood pressure. Consume the purslane leaves to press high blood pressure naturally and your body will be healthier.
14. For Bone and Teeth Health 
    The health of bone and Teeth is measured by their strength. The strength of both of them can you obtained naturally using purslane leaves. You only need to drink the water obtained from mashed purslane leaves. Your bones and teeth will be stronger and it will help your daily activities.

Except for the 14 benefits above, here are the other benefits of purslane leaves that is powerful for a healthy life.

1. Anti hair fall.
2. Cure hemorrhoid.
3. Remedy for Diarrhea
4. Natural Skin Whitening
5. Natural Detoxify
6. Remedy for blood Circular System
7. Prevent Stress.
8. Increase Stamina.
9. Lungs Care
10. Prevention of Anemia
11. Relieve Intestinal inflammation

• Although it is considered a weed in the United States; it may be eaten as a leaf vegetable.
• Purslane may be consumed fresh as a salad, stir-fried, or cooked as spinach is, and because of its mucilaginous quality, it also is suitable for soups and stews.
• Australian Aborigines use the seeds of purslane to make seedcakes.
• Greeks use the leaves and the stems with feta cheese, tomato, onion, garlic, oregano, and olive oil.
• Besides being used in salads and in baked pastries, it is cooked as a vegetable similar to spinach in turkey.
• It also is used as a vegetable similar to spinach, mostly simmered and served in olive oil dressing, or mixed with other ingredients as a filling for dough layers of byrek in Albania.
• It is used as a soup ingredient in the south of Portugal.
• It is cooked as in stews along with lentils, similarly to spinach, or in a mixed green stew in Pakistan.
• Young, raw leaves and stems are tender and are good in salads and sandwiches.
• Purslane seeds are often used to make herbal drinks.
• Sautéed and gently stewed stems and leaves served as a side dish with fish and poultry.
• It has also been used in soup and curry preparations and eaten with rice and ragi cake.
• Purslane is a green smoothie
• Purslane leaf tea
• Purslane and watermelon slushie

Other Traditional uses and benefits of Purslane

• Its leaves are used for insect or snake bites on the skin, boils, sores, pain from bee stings, diarrhea, bacillary dysentery, postpartum bleeding, hemorrhoids, and intestinal bleeding.
• Use is contraindicated during pregnancy and for those with cold and weak digestion.
• Purslane is an effective treatment for oral lichen planus.
• Expressed juice, taken while fresh, was said to be good for strangury and taken with sugar and honey to afford relief for dry coughs, shortness of breath, and immoderate thirst, as well as for external application in inflammation and sores.
• The herb bruised and applied to the forehead and temple was said to calm excessive heat, and applied to the eyes to remove inflammation.
• The herb if placed under the tongue assuage thirst.
• Applied to gout, it eased pains thereof, and helps the hardness of the sinews, if it comes not of the cramp or a cold cause.’
• The juice, with oil of Roses, was recommended for sore mouths and swollen gums and also to fasten loose teeth.
• The seeds, bruised and boiled in wine, were given to children as a vermifuge.
• This wonderful green leafy vegetable is very low in calories (just 16 kcal/100g) and fats; nonetheless, it is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• Fresh leaves contain surprisingly more omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) than any other leafy vegetable plant. 100 grams of fresh purslane leaves provide about 350 mg of α-linolenic acid.
• Research studies show that consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and help prevent the development of ADHD, autism, and other developmental differences in children.
• It is an excellent source of Vitamin-A, (1320 IU/100 g, provides 44% of RDA) one of the highest among green leafy vegetables. Vitamin-A is a known powerful natural antioxidant and an essential vitamin for vision. It is also required to maintain healthy mucosa and skin.
• Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin-A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Purslane is also a rich source of vitamin-C, and some B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and carotenoids, as well as dietary minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese.
• Furthermore, present in purslane are two types of betalain alkaloid pigments, the reddish β -cyanins, and the yellow β -xanthins. Both pigment types are potent antioxidants and have been found to have antimutagenic properties in laboratory studies. [Proc. West. Pharmacol. Soc. 45: 101-103 (2002)].

This is a nice recipe for purslane dip.

How to Make Easy Purslane Soup?

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag of purslane
• 1 teacup lentil, 1 piece of onion
• 2 garlic cloves, 2 tomatoes
• Butter and olive oil
• Tomato, pepper paste and salt

Preparing: Purslane is washed with plenty of water and cut them small. Onion and garlic cut together and roast with oil. Peel off tomatoes and add them and cook a little more.

We mix and blend paste, purslane, washed lentils and salt with additional ingredients. Add water to ingredients until they have a finger or two, and cook until they all soften.

We can add chili or peppercorns. We can control water and add hot water if necessary to burn bottom, but should not be too watery to sit consistency.

Eating Purslane with Yogurt

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag of purslane
• Half cup rice
• 1 onion, 1 tablespoon paste
• 2 tablespoons oil, 1 cup of water
• Salt, 1 bowl of yogurt
• 2 cloves of garlic on request

Preparation: First we cut to dish peel onion. We open stove by taking liquid oil into pot and we roast until becomes pink onions.

After onions are peeled, add tomato paste and then add purslane, which we have thoroughly washed and drained.

We add rice after simmering for about 2-3 minutes. Add hot water and salt to a glass of water and cover pot. Food should not be too watery, but we can add water if necessary to keep bottom.

We keep purslane on low heat until is cooked rice. After cooking, we pour yogurt, which we add garlic on request.

Roasting Purslane Recipes

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag of purslane,
• 2 onions, 1 tomato,
• 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste and salt,

Preparation: We roast onion in olive oil, which we cut in cubes or rings. When onions are roasted, we add first our tomato paste and then peel and cut into cubes.

Add the most recent purslane. If you want to take serving plate we can put yoğurt with garlic and chili peppers. we can eat by pouring spices.

• 1 cup of purslane (and perhaps some other leafy greens)
• ½ cup organic or homemade plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• a couple of garlic cloves or handfuls of garlic chives, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon good salt to taste
• Blend and serve with homemade sourdough bread, vegetable sticks or handmade crackers. Also lovely as a side dish with curry.

Other Facts

• Purslane has been used to feed sheep and pigs.

Damages and Side Effects of Purslane

• Purslane contains large amounts of oxalate, a condition, may create a problem for people who tend to develop kidney stones.
• However, yogurt significantly reduces oxalate content in purslane, eating both at the same time can reduce the risk of kidney stones.
• In addition, boiling water is inserted 5 minutes after removal of large amounts of oxalate can be destroyed without losing most of the other useful nutrients.
• However, is advisable to consult your doctor. Other than that, there is no known harm and side effects.
• Purslane contains oxalic acid, a naturally-occurring substance found in some vegetables, which may crystallize as oxalate stones in the urinary tract in some people.
• Pregnant women are normally recommended to avoid eating purslane as this emmenagogue food encourages uterine contractions and may therefore cause miscarriage.

References

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