J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 May 8. pii: S0378-8741(16)31275-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.05.004. [Epub ahead of print]
- 1
- Biotechnology Research Center and School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- 2
- Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- 3
- Pharmaceutical
Research Center, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy,
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- 4
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- 5
- Pharmaceutical
Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical
Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: KarimiG@mums.ac.ir.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Portulaca oleracea L. is a widespread medicinal plant that is used not only as an edible plant, but also as a traditional medicine for alleviating a wide spectrum of diseases. It is a well-known plant in the European Traditional Medicine. PA is mentioned by Dioscorides (40-90 CE), with the name of "andrachne".
AIM OF THE REVIEW:
In this study, we provide detailed information on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological uses, pharmacokinetics and safety of P. oleracea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
An
extensive search on electronic databases including PubMed, Web of
Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, conference papers, local
herbal encyclopedias, articles, books (in English, French, Arabic,
Persian, etc.) and also a number of unpublished handwritten manuscripts
was done to find articles have been published between 1956 and 2015 on pharmacology and phytochemistry of P. oleracea.
RESULTS:
P. oleracea
has been addressed in De Materia Medica as an astringent, and a remedy
for headaches, inflammation of the eyes and other organs, burning of the
stomach, erysipela, disorders of the bladder, numbness of the teeth,
excessive sexual desire, burning fevers, worms, dysentery, hemorrhoids,
eruptions of blood, and bites. Phytochemical investigations revealed
that this plant a wide range of secondary metabolites including
alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids and organic acids. The most important
pharmacological activities are renoprotective activities and effects on
metabolism. P. oleracea could successfully decrease blood glucose and lipid profile of patients with metabolic syndrome. The safety of P. oleracea has been reported in many clinical trials.
CONCLUSION:
Modern pharmacological studies have now proven many traditional uses of P. oleracea,
including anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic, renoprotective
and hepatoprotective effects. In addition, in many clinical trials P. oleracea showed no adverse effects and constipation was reported as the most frequent adverse effect.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Anti-hyperglycemic; Anti-hyperlipidemic; Ethnopharmacology; Hepatoprotective; Portulaca oleracea L.; Renoprotective
