author(s) : Abdel-Fattah M. Rizk, Ibrahim A. El-Garf and Husseiny A. H. Elgendy
Synonym
- Trianthema portulacastrum L., Sp. Pl., ed. 1, 223 (1753); Boulos, Fl. Egypt 1: 48(1999).
- Syn. Sesuvium portulacastrum L., Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 2: 1058 (1995);Trianthema monogyna L., Mant. 69 (1767).
- Carpet weed, Horse purslane
family name
AIZOACEAE
genus name
TRIANTHEMA L.
Trianthema portulacastrum contains 21.5 – 29.4% protein similar to leucrne with relatively low structural carbohydrate (neutral detergent fiber: 43.6± 3.1%). (Garg et al.,1978; Bharathidhasan et al., 2007).
The green leaves of the plant are good source of Fe, with moderate levels of Ca, P, Zn and carotenoids (Rao et al., 1980; Ragu and Kapoor, 1977; Bharathidhasan et al., 2007; Gooneratne and Kumarapperuma, 2007; Hussain et al., 2010).
The seeds of Trianthema monogyna contain oil ( 14.0% ), protein ( 9.0 % ) and moisture (9.0 % ) the fatty acids were identified as C16:0, 17.9; C18:0, 2,5; C 18:1, 17.9 and C18:2, 61.7% (Ahmad et al., 1979).
Eight free amino acids were detected in the plant, including alanine and phenylalanine (Garg et al., 1978).
The protein concentrate from the leaves of Trianthema monogyna L. had 44% protein, 37% carbohydrates and 14% ash (Mehrotra et al., 1978).
The seeds of Trianthema monogyna contain 14.0% oil and 9.0% protein.
The fatty acid composition of the oil is C16:0 (17.9%), C18:0 (2.5%), C18:1 (17.9%) and C18:2 (61.7%) (Ahmad et al., 1979)
Folk Medicine, Pharmacological and Biological ActivitiesTrianthema portulacastrum is an important medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine.
It is attributed with analagesic, stomachic, alterative, anti-inflammatory and abortifacient properties and is claimed to be of value in asthma, bronchitis, ascites, orchitis, cardiovascular disorders and migraine.
It is also used as a laxative and alterative.
The root is applied to the eye cures, corneal ulcers, itching, dimness of sight and night blindness (Vohra et al., 1983; Kirtikar and Basu. 1984).
Crude extracts from the roots and leaves of the plant have been investigated for their general pharmacodynamics (e.g. blood pressure, respiration, smooth and skeletal muscles, isolated from heart preparations etc.) (Gupta et al., 1976), and antifertilty effects (Jamwal and Anand, 1962; Garg, 1976).
Ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Trianthema portulacastrum showed the following activities: antipyretic (against yeast pyrexia in rats), analgesic (against chemical and electrical stimuli), anti-inflammatory (30.43% inhibition of formaldehyde induced arthritis in rats), in vitro antibacterial and also CNS depressant properties (Vohora etr al., 1983).
location
egypt