Background and aim: Purslane (Khurfeh) is one of the richest sources of omega3 fatty acids in plants and it has many antioxidants and minerals in its different parts. High density lipoprotein (HDL) has antioxidant effects because of Paraoxanase-1 (PON1) enzyme which attaches to HDL particles and circulates with it in blood. PON1 is responsible for hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids. The aims of this study were investigating the Purslane effects on Paraoxanase-1 activity and lipoproteins levels, especially oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and to compare these effects with Lovastatin.Methods: Fasting venous blood samples were obtained from patients who were referred to an internal clinic with LDL-C more than 100 mg/dl. Five ml of blood was taken before and 45 days after taking Purslane or Lovastatin. Subsequently the levels of all variables in the samples were measured using standard methods. Results were analyzed using paired t-test and t-test.Results: There was a significant decrease in serum level of cholesterol, LDL-C and OxLDL in two groups after receiving Purslane or Lovastatin (P<0.05). ApoB was decreased only after taking Lovastatin. PON1 arylesterase activity was increased only in Purslane group following increasing of Apo A1 and HDL-C. Body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride was decreased in Purslane group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Purslane reduces some cardiovascular risk factors through decreasing OxLDL, LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increasing activity of paraoxanase-1 enzyme and HDL-C concentration. In addition, Purslane can increase ApoA1 better than Lovastatin.

Several therapeutic effects including diuretic, anti-pyretic and anti-scurvy have been - reported for PORTULACA OLERACEA. In previous studies the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-oxidant, muscle relaxant effects and neuropharmacological effects of the, aqueous extract of PORTULACA OLERACEAl1ave been demonstrated on experimental animals. In the present study the antitussive effect of this plant was evaluated. The antitusive effects of aerosols of two different concentrations of boiled extract, codeine: and saline were tested by. , counting the number of coughs induced by citric acid aerosol 10 min following exposure of animals. The effective concentration of extract causing 50% reduction of cough number (EC50) was also determined. The results showed "significant reduction (p<0.001) in cough numbers following the use of both concentrations of the boiled extract (10.7 0.16 and 6.7 0.33 for %2.5 and %5 extracts respectively) compared to saline (14.8 0.30). In addition there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the cough numbers of the 5% extract with that of codeine (10.2 0.38). In this study, EC50 of the plant extract was 4.5%. These results showed that the antitussive effect of PORTULACA OLERACEA L. was comparable to codeine.

PORTULACA OLERACEA L. as a medicinal plant, having valuable secondary metabolites, such as noradrenaline, dopamine and omega-3, is used as anti-cancer, antioxidant, and blood purifier factor. Callus inducted from hairy roots of some medicinal plants are used to increase the production of secondary metabolites, cell suspension culture, protoplast culture, induction of embryonic callus and gene transfer agents. In this experiment, various concentrations of two hormones of BA and 2,4-D were examined on transgenic hairy roots of P. OLERACEA to produce callus. Hairy roots transgenic of P. OLERACEA were induced by Agrobacterium rhizogene, 15834 strain. Hairy roots produced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834 strain, were transferred to 1.2 MS medium containing different concentrations of BA and 2,4-D hormones. BA and 2,4-D hormones were used, both at three levels of 0, 0.5 and 1 mg per liter and in three replications.Our results indicated that BA and 2,4-D hormones alone as well as without hormone treatment (control) did not show any callus formation. The treatments containing different ratios of BA and 2,4-D hormones, caused callus formation in varying degrees. The medium containing 1mg/L BA and 1 mg/L of 2,4-D hormones showed the higher production of callus.

Background: PORTULACA OLERACEA (PO) overgrows in different parts of Iran. In previous studies, a 10% hydroalcoholic extract of the PO aerial parts (leaf and stem) showed anticipative and anticonvulsive activity in rats.Objective: This study was designed to evaluate anxielytic effects in different doses of the aqueous decoction extracts of PO seed.Methods: In this study, forty male mice (25-30gr) were used in a model elevated plus maze (EMP). Different doses of the extract (25, 50, 75 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) to three separated test groups and normal saline (10 ml/kg, IP) was injected to one control group, intraperitoneally. For increasing their activity, animals were put inside a black box for 5 min. Then they were transferred to the elevated plus maze and evaluated for their anxiety reaction, including number and percent of time spent in open arm.Results: Results indicated that injection of the extract in three doses of PO reduced anxiety reaction in test groups, compared with the control group which had higher number of entrances and spent more time in open arm (P=0.000).Conclusion: It is suggested that the aqueous extract of PO plays an important role in fear and anxiety reactions and that the anxielytic effects of PO is not related to the dosage of use.

Background & Aim: Purslane (PORTULACA OLERACEA L.), belongs to the PORTULACAceace family, grows in many parts of Iran. Results of previous studies were indicated purslane is a rich source of essential fatty acids of omega-3 and omega-6. PORTULACA OLERACEA is a widespread weed, being the eighth common plants of the world. The Aim of current study was to compare the essential fatty acids composition in two populations of PORTULACA OLERACEA from Gorgan and Sardasht regions.Experimental: The oil of purslane leaves was extracted by Soxhlent apparatus using petroleum ether. Extracted oil was change into methyl ester, before analysis by gas chromatography.Results & Discussion: The total fat contents of Gorgan and Sardasht populations were 4.71% and 4.81%, respectively. In both populations, three the essential fatty acids were detected. Linolenic acid, ranged from 105.43 to 148.97 mg FA/g, linoleic acid ranged from 30.13 to 39.31 mg FA/g, and the lowest was recorded for Arashidonic acid which ranged from 5.16 to 8.30 mg FA/g for the Gorgan and Sardasht populations, respectively.Industrial and practical recommendations: The oil and the essential fatty acids content of purslane leaves in the Sardasht population were higher than the Gorgan population. Since the oil and essential fatty acid content were affected by different climatic and cultivation factors, the western province of Iran is better suited for cultivation of medicinal plants having great oil and essential fatty acid contents.