MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL STUDIES OF PURSLANE (PORTULACA OLERACEA) WEED-AN ETHNO MEDICINAL PLANT

Author(s): Deepak Kumar, Rupinder Kaur* and Sonia

Abstract: Portulaca oleracea which is widely distributed in various habitats of Himalayan region was investigated morphologically and anatomically during present study. Anatomical and morphological features of different vegetative organs (leaf, stem and root) and reproductive organs (flower, fruit and seed) were studied along with medicinal importance of the plant. Portulaca oleracea is an annual succulent herb belongs to the family Portulacaceae. In the morphological study it was observed that the plant have sessile (stalk less) leaves which were ovate, smooth, succulent, arranged in opposite manner, stem was aerial, weak and cylindrical, root consists of a long thick taproot as well as many fibrous lateral roots, flowers were single in leaf axils, fruit consists of round to egg-shaped capsules with glossy brown and black seeds. In anatomical studies, cross sections of the leaf, stem and root were examined. From the earlier research work on this plant, it has been reported that it is an important medicinal plant; with a good source of alpha-linolenic acid which is an omega-3 fatty acid that is useful for human growth, development and in prevention of various diseases. Purslane has better nutritional quality than the major cultivated vegetables with higher beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3 fatty acid) along with high nutritive and antioxidant properties.

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