Multifunctional bioactivity of Portulaca oleracea seed oil: GC-MS-based characterization and in vitro evaluation

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is a widespread weed highly valued for its nutritional value, particularly its omega-3 fatty acid content. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological properties and the phenolic and flavonoid contents of P. olecracea seed oil. P. oleracea seed oil was tested for antioxidant activity (DPPH· and ABTS), cell viability and cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity. The contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, and constituents were characterized. The seed oil of P.oleracea had high flavonoid (4.53 mg/g) and phenolic (8.65 mg/g) content. The antioxidant activity of P. oleracea seed oil increased from 24.16% at a concentration of 0.5 µg/mL to 97.28% at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The MTT assay demonstrated that P. oleracea seed oil exhibited relatively weak to moderate cytotoxic activity against the A549, HepG-2, and MCF-7 cell lines. Lower concentrations of the seed oil extract exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, and these effects were compared with those of indomethacin as a positive control. GC-MS analysis showed that the seed oil of P. oleracea is rich in olean-12-ene-3,28-diol and 9-octadecenoic acid. It could be concluded that P. oleracea seed oil exhibits notable in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, which may be attributed to its content of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. However, further in vivo studies and toxicity evaluations are required to confirm its potential applications.