Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2023)

P. oleracea is an herbaceous plant that is also known as purslane in the United States and Australia, rigla in Egypt, pigweed in England, pourpier in France, and Ma-Chi-Xian in China. It is widespread around the world and readily grows in a variety of soil types. It has a long history of consumption as a nutritive and ethnomedical meal all across the world. Purslane has several advantages that have made it a valuable wonder crop, and experts from all over the world are very interested in using it as a nourishing meal in the near future. This review aims to highlight and critically evaluate the pharmaceutical potential of Portulaca oleracea by compiling the literature on its pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antiulcerogenic, and ethnopharmacological activities. Study outlines purslane's history, botanical characteristics, and physiological characteristics while describing its nutritional and therapeutic benefits considering the findings of several investigations on its chemical composition.