Purslane Extract
Summary
Purslane is a succulent rich in omega-3 ALA and polyphenols. Meta-analyses of small trials found lower fasting glucose, cholesterol and CRP in type 2 diabetes, and small falls in weight and systolic blood pressure. Iranian trials reported less morning stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis and fewer hand-eczema symptoms. Doses and preparations vary widely.
Key facts
- Pooled RCTs: fasting glucose −15 mg/dL, total cholesterol −18 mg/dL, triglycerides −21 mg/dL, CRP −1.4 mg/L, HDL +6 mg/dL; no change in HbA1c, insulin or HOMA-IR[1]
- 7 RCTs: weight −0.73 kg, BMI −0.35, lower systolic pressure; waist and diastolic pressure unchanged[2]
- 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks reduced morning stiffness, physician global scores, TNF-α and ESR vs placebo in adults (86 randomized, 77 completed)[3]
- Oral purslane syrup for 4 weeks lowered fissure, itch, dryness and thickness scores vs placebo; more mild adverse events (10 vs 4)[4]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedPurslane contains alpha-linolenic acid, flavonoids and other polyphenols that are proposed to have anti-inflammatory and glucose-lowering effects; trials measured TNF-α, ESR and CRP changes but not mechanisms directly.[1][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 77 · 2024 | 1 row |
| Skin | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 62 · 2024 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning stiffness and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 77 · 2024 Adults aged 20–79 with rheumatoid arthritis (Iran) Form: Purslane capsules · Dose: 500 mg twice daily (1 g/day) · Duration: 12 weeks Morning stiffness, physician global assessment, TNF-α and ESR fell more than with placebo. | 39306881 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Chronic hand eczema severity | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 62 · 2024 Adults with mild to moderate chronic hand eczema (Razi Hospital, Iran) Form: Standardized oral purslane syrup, plus topical Vaseline in both groups · Dose: Dose not stated in the abstract · Duration: 4 weeks Fissure, itch and combined itching/dryness/thickness scores were lower than placebo; 10 vs 4 participants had mild-to-moderate adverse events. | 37872023 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purslane capsules, powder or syrup | Varies[1][2][3][4] | No head-to-head human absorption data; trial preparations differ widely. | Mild-to-moderate adverse events were more frequent than placebo in the eczema trial (10 vs 4, p=0.068).[4] | Diabetes, weight, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 1,000 mg/day of capsules (500 mg twice daily, 12 weeks, rheumatoid arthritis); the eczema syrup and the trials pooled in meta-analyses used varied preparations not specified in their abstracts.[3][4][1][2]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Who should be careful
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
How to read the label
Frequently asked questions
Does purslane lower blood sugar?
In pooled trials in type 2 diabetes it lowered fasting glucose by about 15 mg/dL, but HbA1c did not change.[1]
Does purslane help with weight or blood pressure?
A meta-analysis of seven trials found about 0.7 kg less weight and lower systolic blood pressure.[2]
Can purslane help joint stiffness?
One trial of 86 adults (77 completed) in rheumatoid arthritis found less morning stiffness with 1 g/day for 12 weeks.[3]
Does purslane have side effects?
In the eczema trial, more people on purslane than placebo reported mild-to-moderate adverse events.[4]
Sources
- [1]The effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on C-reactive protein, lipid profile, and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat, 2024. meta-analysis
- [2]The effects of purslane consumption on blood pressure, body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled.. J Nutr Sci, 2023. meta-analysis
- [3]The effect of purslane supplementation on clinical outcomes, inflammatory and antioxidant markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A parallel double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.. Phytomedicine, 2024. RCT
- [4]Efficacy and safety of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) for mild to moderate chronic hand eczema; A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.. Explore (NY), 2024. RCT
What changed
- Independent adversarial review: rheumatoid arthritis row n corrected from 86 randomized to 77 analysed (PMID 39306881); key fact and FAQ updated.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Self-review pass (strict second read): meta-analyses kept out of the evidence table (no pooled participant counts in abstracts). Drug interactions checked explicitly: diabetes and blood-pressure drugs (listed); anticoagulants, antibiotics, levodopa, chemotherapy (no data, stated).