Quantification of Biochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Contrasting Common Purslane Populations

Plants play a crucial role in human nutrition and health, yet many species with high nutritional and antioxidant potential remain underutilized. Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), a fast-growing and easily cultivable plant, is a rich source of phytoconstituents and bioactive compounds, making it a promising candidate for functional food development. This research aimed to explore common purslane's viability as a unique Mediterranean vegetable. We collected seeds from 25 distinct populations across Turkey, addressing a significant research gap in their biochemical and antioxidant properties. Among these 25 populations, lycopene and lutein levels ranged from 52.59 to 10.52 and 37.33 to 12.63 mg g-1 fresh weight (FW), respectively. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) values ranged from 8.23 to 3 mg g-1 FW, Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) from 123.44 to 24.17 mg g-1 FW, and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) from 135.33 to 66.25 mg g-1 FW. In conclusion, our study not only provides an innovative approach for expanding unexploited markets but also highlights the potential for developing valuable functional foods.