A STORY ABOUT PORTULACA OLERACEA: DESCRIPTION, METHODOLOGY OF OBTAINING BIOACTIVE EXTRACTS, AND THEIR POSSIBLE USE IN MEDICINE AND COSMETICS

Portulaca oleracea, or purslane, is a spontaneous plant from the succulent family with an extensive history and rich possibilities for exploitation in the nutrition, medicine, and cosmetic industries. Written historical sources attest to the plant's use as a remedy for gum parodontal injuries and as a topical antimicrobial in the healing of wounds, but also with psychoactive sedative effect. In traditional medicine, purslane is used as a source of nutrients and as a good remedy against diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections. This paper aims to present more details about this potential of the well-known Portulaca oleracea, as reported in the literature in recent years, and to explore possible future directions for exploiting its bioactive potential.