8 properties of purslane that you did not know

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is one of the most common edible plants in orchards and gardens, although it is also an excellent phytotherapy remedy due to its nutritional richness and medicinal properties.

To find purslane it is not necessary to go to the countryside to look for it, because it adapts even to urban environments, where it grows even in the cracks of roads and sidewalks.

Although today it is classified as a weed, in Europe it was initially used as a medicinal plant and in India it has been cultivated since ancient times for the purpose of using it as an edible plant. In fact, although we see it a lot in our environment, it is not a plant native to Europe, but rather it came to our continent from India through Asia Minor.

Here we will discover the main properties of purslane and its benefits as food and natural remedy.

What benefits does purslane have?

Purslane is a plant with healing and nutritional properties, which is why it is an ingredient ideal in a healthy and balanced diet.

The various benefits of this herb, whether wild or cultivated, we owe to the set of substances it contains in the aerial parts.

In the leaves, stems and buds Purslane concentrates active ingredients such as mucilages, oxalic acid, citric acid, fatty acids (especially α-linolenic and linoleic acids), flavonoids, trace elements, vitamins and mineral salts.

Some of these compounds and the synergy between them provide purslane with a series of benefits for human health. Next, we discover the most interesting ones.

1. Promotes eye health

Purslane is one of the edible plant species with the highest levels of vitamin A, a natural antioxidant that helps protect eyesight. There are even studies that highlight the benefits of the antioxidants of this plant in the protection of lung and oral cavity cancer.

In some Mediterranean regions, traditionally the infusion of the seeds for eye washess as a treatment for conjunctivitis. (Source: Piante medicinali in Sardegna, Enrica Campanini).

2. Helps to regain strength

The mineral salts and vitamins present in leaves and fresh stems of this vegetable make it a superfood with notable restorative properties.

Its slightly acidic and mild flavor also gives it a refreshing touch and makes it ideal for mixing in salads and accompanying protein-based dishes. As a consequence, it is also ideal to stimulate the appetite when there is no appetite.

3. Accelerates skin regeneration and reduces inflammation

The beneficial properties of purslane for the skin have been known since ancient times. Dioscorides, for example, already recommended it as a “detersive with wine for skin eruptions on the head and as a poultice with barley flour for gangrenous wounds”‘.

He calming and healing effect It may be related to the synergy of substances such as mucilage and antioxidants present in purslane. Recently, the results of a double-blind randomized clinical trial have shown the potential benefits and the absence of side effects of a cream based on Portulaca oleracea L.. in the nipple fissure cure in lactating women.

Folk medicine contemplates the topical use of crushed fresh purslane leaves and stems for the wound healing, acne and other irritations of the complexion

4. Prevents digestive problems

The main people in charge of this property of the P. oleracea They are the mucilages, which favor the digestive process and prevent problems such as constipation.

In addition to a slightly laxative power, the active compounds of the plant consumed fresh stimulate the production of enzymes in the liverwith positive effects on the entire digestive process.

5. Enriches vegan diets and dietary regimens

Portulaca is one of the vegetables with the highest contribution of Vitamin A. It also contains group B vitamins and fatty acids that are hardly found in terrestrial plant species.

Thanks to these nutrients it is an ideal ingredient in vegan diets in which sources of omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins must be introduced alternatives to meat and fish.

It is also an option in Diets to lose weight, because it provides us with a concentrate of mineral salts and vitamins or other substances that are good for our health, but it contains very few calories (approximately 20 in a 100-gram portion).

6. Promotes the health of the circulatory system

This common edible wild herb possesses characteristics that are not so common in the plant kingdom. The highlight of purslane is the presence of omega-3 fatty acids and high antioxidant content.

The set of these substances also promotes blood health and is considered a potentially effective ingredient in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

7. It is a good food for bone health

We have commented on the presence of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids in the purslane leaves and stems. But this plant is also a rich source of mineral salts and trace elements. It highlights the presence of calcium, magnesium and ironimportant elements to maintain healthy bones and prevent problems related to aging.

8. Promotes kidney health

Another peculiarity of purslane is its fleshy texture due to the high presence of water and soluble fiberespecially in the leaves and tender stems of the plant.

The high contribution of water together with the minerals give it a diuretic action. As a consequence, the portulaca oleracea It favors diuresis and contributes to the elimination of toxins and the proper functioning of the kidneys.

In short, purslane is much more than an edible wild herb, because due to its nutrients and properties it provides us with a large number of health benefits that we can take advantage of by including it in our salads and other recipes.