Antioxidant effect of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and its mechanism of action

Aqueous juice from purslane (Portulaca oleracea) was screened for its antioxidant activity in adult male Waster albino rats. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the inhibition in lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide in liver, kidney and testis of rats. Liver and kidney function were also determined. Administered rats with aqueous juice of purslane, resulted in marked improvement in all studied parameters. On the basis of the above results, it can be concluded that purslane is a promising natural product, which could be useful for the prevention of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and other chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress.