Composition
Purslane contains more omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid in particular)8
than any other leafy vegetable plant. Research published by
Artemis P. Simopoulos stated that Purslane has 0.01 mg/g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This is an extraordinary amount of EPA for a land-based
vegetable source. EPA is an Omega-3 fatty acid found mostly in fish, some algae, and flax seeds47. It also contains vitamins (mainly vitamin A, vitamin C,
and some vitamin B and carotenoids), as well as dietary minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. Also present are two types of betalain
alkaloid pigments, the reddish betacyanins (visible in the coloration of the stems) and the yellow betaxanthins (noticeable in the flowers and in the slight
yellowish cast of the leaves). Both of these pigment types are potent antioxidants and have been found to have antimutagenic properties in laboratory
studies13
.