Ma Chi Xian
StarPortulaca oleracea
☯ TCM Properties
Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and cools the Blood; Clears Damp-Heat and treats sores; Stops bleeding, disperses Blood Stagnation and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ma Chi Xian (purslane herb) is a sour, cold herb used in Chinese medicine primarily to clear toxic heat and cool the Blood, with a strong focus on the intestines. It is the leading herb for dysentery and diarrhea with blood from Heat toxin accumulation, and it also stops bleeding from hemorrhoids and uterine bleeding due to Blood Heat. When applied topically or as a wash, it treats inflammatory skin conditions and insect stings.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Portulaca oleracea is a succulent annual herb growing prostrate or ascending, with reddish, branched, smooth stems 10-40 cm long. Leaves are thick, fleshy, spatula-shaped to obovate, 1-3 cm long, alternately or nearly oppositely arranged. Flowers are small, yellow, 5-petaled, opening only in sunlight. Fruit is a small capsule containing numerous tiny black seeds. The plant has a high water content and mucilaginous texture.
Gardens, cultivated fields, roadsides, sandy soils, and disturbed areas; a pantropical weed widely naturalized throughout warm and temperate regions worldwide.
Portulaca oleracea is one of the most widespread plant species on Earth, found on all continents except Antarctica. It is a common agricultural weed and is also cultivated as a vegetable and medicinal plant. No conservation concerns.
Active Constituents
alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA)
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acidConcentration: Among the highest of any leafy green vegetable (~300-400 mg/100 g fresh leaf)
Purslane is one of the richest terrestrial plant sources of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA, contributing to its anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and lipid-lowering properties.
Noradrenaline and dopamine (catecholamines)
Catecholamine alkaloidsConcentration: Present in aerial parts
Vasoactive amines that contribute to the herb's hemostatic (blood-stopping) traditional action and vascular effects.
Portulacerebroside / oleracein alkaloids
Alkaloids (cyclo-dopa amides / cerebrosides)Concentration: Characteristic minor alkaloids of the species
Oleraceins are antioxidant nitrogenous pigments; portulacerebrosides show reported anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activity in laboratory models.
Flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, genistein)
Flavonoid polyphenolsConcentration: Notable content in aerial parts
Free-radical scavengers that underlie the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of purslane extracts.
Portulaca polysaccharides (POP)
Water-soluble polysaccharidesConcentration: Major macromolecular fraction
Immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic and antioxidant in experimental models; investigated for effects on blood glucose and gut/immune function.
Betalain pigments (betacyanins, betaxanthins)
Betalain alkaloid pigmentsConcentration: In stems and flowers
Potent antioxidants contributing to radical-scavenging and cytoprotective effects.
Vitamins A, C, E and minerals (K, Mg)
MicronutrientsConcentration: High for a leafy vegetable
Antioxidant vitamins and electrolytes that support the nutritional and Heat-clearing, cooling profile of the fresh herb.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Oral hypoglycemic agents / insulin
Randomized trials show purslane extract lowers fasting blood glucose and improves glycemic control; combined with antidiabetic drugs this may have an additive hypoglycemic effect.
Clinical note: Monitor blood glucose in diabetic patients on medication; medication dose adjustment may be needed.
Warfarin and other vitamin-K antagonists
As a leafy green, purslane contains vitamin K, which could theoretically antagonize warfarin if intake is large and inconsistent. No clinical case has been reported.
Clinical note: Keep dietary purslane intake consistent if on warfarin; report large changes to the prescriber.
Lithium
Purslane has mild diuretic activity; theoretically, a diuretic effect could reduce lithium excretion and raise serum levels. Not documented clinically.
Clinical note: Monitor lithium levels if large amounts of purslane are consumed regularly.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 9-15 g | daily | — | adult | Dried herb; fresh herb 30-60 g. Larger doses used for dysentery. |
Preparation Methods
Decoction (Tang)
Parts: Whole aerial herb (fresh or dried)
Dried herb 9-15 g (or 30-60 g fresh) decocted in water, taken for Damp-Heat dysentery, diarrhea and bloody stools. It clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and cools the Blood.
Fresh juice / topical poultice
Parts: Fresh aerial herb
Fresh purslane crushed and applied topically, or its expressed juice used, for hot skin sores, insect bites, boils and eczema (Damp-Heat toxic sores). The juice may also be taken internally for bleeding.
Clinical Studies
Effects of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) on liver function tests, metabolic profile, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial
NAFLD patients given 700 mg/day purslane extract for 8 weeks alongside a calorie-restricted diet showed significant reductions in weight, BMI, liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT), inflammatory markers (IL-6, hs-CRP, ESR) and liver stiffness, with improved antioxidant enzyme activity, versus placebo.
Purslane Extract and Glucose Homeostasis in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety
Purslane extract added to a single oral hypoglycemic agent improved glucose control, blood pressure and lipid profile in adults with type 2 diabetes, and was well tolerated, supporting purslane's metabolic and vascular benefits.
Historical Texts
Bencao Jing Jizhu (Collected Commentaries on the Classic of Materia Medica), attributed lineage of Tao Hongjing
Southern and Northern dynasties, c. 500 CEBencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty, 1578 CEReferences
- Milkarizi N, Barghchi H, Belyani S, Bahari H, Rajabzade F, Norouzian Ostad A, Goshayeshi L, Nematy M, Askari VR. Effects of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) on liver function tests, metabolic profile, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial . Frontiers in Nutrition (2024) [DOI]
- Wainstein J, Landau Z, Bar Dayan Y, Jakubowicz D, Grothe T, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Boaz M. Purslane Extract and Glucose Homeostasis in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety . Journal of Medicinal Food (2016) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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