To study the chemical composition

pharmacological action and the existing clinical application of purslane

in order to provide a reference for the basic study and development of medicinal properties of purslane. The author conducted a combined retrieval of the key word of ‘Portulaca olerace’ in literatures of Scifinder®

Pub Med

China Knowledge Network

Weipu and other databases between January 1993 and May 2017

and summarized the status quo of purslane in four aspects

namely chemical composition

pharmacological effects

clinical and development and utilization. Portulaca is both a medicine and food full of nutriments

and widely distributed in temperate and tropical areas in north and south China. In terms of the chemical composition

purslane mainly contains alkaloids

terpenoids

coumarins

flavonoids

organic acids

volatile oil and polysaccharides

including eight new compounds; in the aspect of pharmacological effects

purslane has anti-inflammatory

analgesic

antibacterial

hypolipidemic

hypoglycemic

anti-tumor

anti-oxidation

anti-aging

immunity enhancing

anti-fatigue

anticonvulsant

and cough and asthma relieving effects

is mainly used for the treatment of diabetes

inflammation

pruritus

gastrointestinal protection

nasal boil and other diseases. In terms of the development and utilization

purslane is mainly applied in drugs

healthcare food

cosmetics

daily necessities and animal feed

with a good development prospect.