Table 1.
Ethno-medicinal uses of purslane in treating various diseases across the globe.
| Country | Ethnomedicinal use | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | ||
| Afghanistan | Seeds are used against diarrhea and throat infections. | [19] |
| Armenia | Leaves and stem are used against liver, gastric, kidney, and bladder diseases and as a hypoglycemic agent. | [51] |
| Azerbaijan | Infusion of leaves is used against diabetes. | [52] |
| Bangladesh | Dried seeds are used for toothache and asthma. | [17] |
| China | Used against dysentery, swellings, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), bleeding of hemorrhoids, erysipelas, and eczema. It is also used against snake bites and insect bites. | [15, 16, 20] |
| India | Used as an Ayurveda medicine against diseases of lungs, liver, kidney, bladder and bowel burning sensation, coughing and neurasthenia. | [53, 54, 55, 56] |
| Iran | Roots, leaves and seeds of purslane are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. | [57, 58] |
| Jordan | Seeds are used as blood purifiers and as aphrodisiacs. | [59] |
| Myanmar | Leaves used for kidney disease treatment and as a laxative. | [60] |
| Nepal | Leaves are used for scurvy, kidney and cardiovascular disorders. Juice is drunk for blood purification. | [42, 43] |
| Pakistan | Aerial parts are used in the treatment of urinary and digestive problems. Seeds are demulcent, diuretic and vermifuge. | [61, 62] |
| Philippines | Used for treatment of kidney infections. | [63] |
| Sri Lanka | Leaves are used against ulcers, wounds, burns and skin diseases. | [15, 64] |
| UAE | Aerial parts are used as a medicine to reduce fever. | [44] |
| Vietnam | The whole plant is used as an antibacterial, anathematic and anti-inflammatory agent. | [65, 66, 67] |
| Yemen | Leaves are used for gastric pain. | [68] |
| Europe | ||
| Albania | It is used to treat musculoskeletal disorders. | [69, 70] |
| Italy | Used to treat headache, stomach, intestine and kidney pains. | [71] |
| Greece | Used to cure inflammation. | [72, 73] |
| Romania | External bath for weakness and sickness. | [74] |
| Spain | Consumption of aerial parts for blood pressure regulation. | [75] |
| Turkey | Leaves are used to cure diarrhoea, diabetes, headache, ulcers, urinary disorders, wounds and constipation. | [76, 77, 78] |
| Australia | ||
| Australia | Aerial parts are eaten to cure scurvy, irritations, inflammations and as a diuretic and antibiotic agent. | [15] |
| Africa | ||
| Algeria | It is used against dyspepsia and also as a diuretic. | [79] |
| Angola | Whole plant is used for burns. | [80] |
| Cameroon | Shoot with leaves is used against headaches and poisoning. | [81] |
| Egypt | Used as a vegetable as well as medicinal plants and also spice. | [56] |
| Kenya | Whole plant is crushed and boiled with other herbs and used against cancer. | [82] |
| Ethiopia | Cooked leaves are eaten for gastritis, peptic ulcers and constipation. Application of crushed leaves on skin is used to cure fungal infections. | [83] |
| Libya | Used against headache, migraine and as a revulsant and vermicide. | [84] |
| Morocco | Cooked leaves are consumed to cure hypercholesterolemia. | [54] |
| Nigeria | Used as a diuretic and for the treatment of burns. | [15] |
| South Africa | Crushed and taken orally with warm water against tuberculosis. Application of crushed leaves is used against lymphatic filariasis. P. quadrifida is also used against lice and sores. Other uses: infections, pain relief | [85, 86, 87, 88] |
| Mauritius | Decoction of plants is used as an astringent and diuretic. Also used against inflammation and worms. Root and leaf decoction used as anthelmintics. | [89] |
| South America | ||
| Argentina | Used as an antipyretic. | [90] |
| Bolivia | Raw leaves are eaten against nephrolithiasis. | [91] |
| Brazil | Used against hemorrhoids. | [92] |
| Ecuador | Aqueous infusion of fresh leaves used against internal inflammation, infections, gastritis and kidney diseases. | [93] |
| Peru | Bark, leaf and sap used against diarrhea, fever and liver problems. | [94] |
| North America | ||
| Dominica, West Indies | Used for treatment of intestinal worms. | [95] |
| Republic of Trinidad and Tobago | Used against urinary problems, "cooling" and for lowering high cholesterol. | [96] |
| Jamaica | Used against urinary diseases. | [96] |
| Cuba | Used against kidney infections, inflammation and digestive disorders. | [97] |