Antioxidant activity
Kamal et al31 had reported the antioxidant activity of portulaca oleracea over the different growth stages by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and ascorbic acid content. There was a correlation between the results of total phenol content
174.5±8.5 to 348.5±7.9 mg GAE/100g and ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant activity 60.5±2.1 to 86.5±3.9 mg/100 g and between DPPH scavenging IC50
(1.30±0.04 to 1.71±0.04 mg/ml) and ferric- reducing anti-oxidant power assays (r2>0.9). The concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Fe and Zn increased with plant
maturity. Calcium was negatively correlated with sodium and chloride, but positively correlated with magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. It was concluded
that mature plants of portulaca oleracea had higher total phenol content and antioxidant activities than plants at immature stages.
Agha-Hosseini et al1
evaluated the effectiveness of antioxidant-rich purslane in the treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). A total of 37 biopsyproven
symptomatic OLP patients were selected for this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. All subjects were divided into two groups to
receive purslane (n = 20) or placebo (n = 17) for 3 months. Assessments were made at baseline, after 2 weeks and each month for 6 months, based on the
visual analog scale (VAS) and clinical improvement including lesion type and size. Approximately 83% of the purslane patients showed partial to complete
clinical improvement but 17% had no response. In the placebo group 17% experienced partial improvement, 73% did not respond and 10% showed
worsening. According to VAS scores, a partial to complete response was observed in all purslane-treated patients, while 71%, 15% and 14% of the controls
demonstrated partial response, no response and worsening of the symptoms, respectively. A significant decrease in VAS scores was seen at the end of the
study period (p < 0.001). No serious side-effects occurred in either of the groups. According to their findings purslane is clinically effective in the treatment
of OLP. Considering the lack of side-effects during the study period, it may be a favorable alternative treatment for OLP