Purslane

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Turkey, Sudan, India, Haiti, Trinidad, Malaya, Lesotho

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alexiteric, Anthrax, Antidote, Antiphlogistic

Science studied: ALANINE, ARABINOSE, ARGININE, ASH

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Portulacaceae

Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea

Common names: Purslane, Verdolaga, Akulikuli-kula, Arba fratesca, Bembe, Bembe di Kome, Burzelkraut, Bürzelkohl, Common Purslane, Dirrik pərpərəni, Duckweed, Dārza portulaka, Erba dei porci, Erba fratesca, Erba porcellana, Europäischer Portulak, Garden Purslane, Gelang biasa, Gelang pasir

POWO: 323270-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Elsewhere, Turkey, Sudan, India, Haiti, Trinidad, Malaya and 14 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alexiteric
• Anthrax
• Antidote
• Antiphlogistic
• Ardor
• Astringent
• Bactericide
• Bite(Bug)

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Elsewhere
• Turkey
• Sudan
• India
• Haiti
• Trinidad
• Malaya
• Lesotho
• Colombia
• Kurdistan
• Iraq

Documented cultural uses

• Alexiteric
• Anthrax
• Antidote
• Antiphlogistic
• Ardor
• Astringent
• Bactericide
• Bite(Bug)
• Bite(Snake)
• Bladder
• Boil
• Burn

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alexiteric · China · "
• Anthrax · China · "
• Antidote · Elsewhere · "
• Antiphlogistic · China · "
• Ardor · Turkey · "
• Astringent · Elsewhere · "
• Astringent · Sudan · "
• Bactericide · China · "
• Bite(Bug) · China · "
• Bite(Snake) · China · "
• Bladder · India · "
• Boil · China · "
• Burn · Elsewhere · "
• Cardiotonic · Haiti · "
• Dermatitis · China · "
• Detergent · India · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Sudan · "
• Diuretic · India · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Dysentery · China · "
• Dysentery · Elsewhere · "
• Dyspepsia · Haiti · "
• Eczema · China · "

103 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• From Tradition to Innovation: The Nutritional, Bioactive, and Sustainable Potential of Portulaca oleracea L. · 2026 source ↗
• Impact of Portulaca oleracea L. extract in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. · 2026 source ↗
• Portulaca oleracea polysaccharide alleviates UVB-induced solar dermatitis in association with macrophage immunomodulation. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALANINE
• ARABINOSE
• ARGININE
• ASH
• ASPARAGIC-ACID
• CAFFEIC-ACID
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATE
• BETA-CAROTENE
• CHLORINE
• CITRIC-ACID
• COPPER
• 3-(3,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYL)ALANINE
• EICOSAPENTAENOIC-ACID
• FAT
• FOLACIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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