The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Portulaca oleracea L. subspsativa (Haw.) Celak

Many ethnic groups have used different species of Portulaca oleracea L., a member of the Family Portulacaceae, as vegetable and also herbal medicine a gainst several diseases for many centuries. A review of the records in both folkloric and scientific literature indicates that Portulaca has many medi cinal uses. After our previous preliminary screening of three species of th e family for analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. sativa (Haw.) Celak. (a cultivar) was chosen for further work du e to its abundant availability from reliable sources. The 10% ethanolic ext ract of the aerial parts (dried leaves and stem) showed significant anti-in flammatory and analgesic after intraperitoneal and topical but not oral adm inistration when compared with the synthetic drug, diclofenac sodium as the active control. Results indicate this cultivar species of Portulaca also p ossesses some of the claimed traditional uses of the wild species in the re lief of pain and inflammation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All r ights reserved.