Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Resilience of Portulaca plants to environmental stresses and the economic potential of their bioactive compounds.

Liew YC, Lim LWT, Lau SE, Tan BC.

Planta · 2025

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Summary

This review examines the environmental stress resilience of Portulaca species, with particular attention to the adaptive mechanisms underpinning their tolerance of drought, salinity and high temperatures. It also evaluates the commercial and nutritional significance of bioactive compounds found in these plants, which may include omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and pigments. The paper likely argues that Portulaca's stress hardiness, combined with its phytochemical richness, positions it as a candidate for sustainable cultivation in challenging agroecological conditions.

UK applicability

Portulaca (purslane) is not a mainstream UK crop, though it is grown as a salad herb and has niche market interest; findings on stress resilience and bioactive content may be relevant to UK growers exploring drought-tolerant or nutritionally dense leafy vegetables under changing climate conditions.

Key measures

Stress tolerance traits (drought, salinity, heat tolerance); bioactive compound profiles (omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, betalains, polyphenols); potential economic and commercial applications

Outcomes reported

The paper likely reviews the physiological and molecular mechanisms enabling Portulaca species to tolerate abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and heat, and assesses the economic value of bioactive compounds — including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and polyphenols — derived from these plants.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Fruit & vegetables
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.1007/s00425-025-04767-1
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-0dr

Topic tags

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