Purslane production practices enhance nutritional value
Thursday, August 25, 2016 - 10:01
in Health & Medicine
Although purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is considered a problematic weed in the United States, it is grown and consumed as a leafy vegetable throughout much of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Mexico. Valued for its nutritional qualities, purslane contains important phytochemicals such as omega-3 fatty acids, organic acids, and important flavonoids. The succulent annual can also contain high concentrations of carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments. The authors of a study in the June 2016 issue of HortScience say there is increasing support for the role of dietary carotenoids and chlorophylls in the protection against harmful chemical mutagens and carcinogens.