Neuropharmacological and Neuroprotective Effect of Portulaca oleracea Extract in Rats

Francis Ojochogwu Omale; Corresponding author

doi:10.56201/ijhpr.vol.11.no8.2026.pg86.96

📄 Download Paper

Neuropharmacological and Neuroprotective Effect of Portulaca oleracea Extract in Rats

Francis Ojochogwu Omale, Corresponding author

Abstract

Neurological disorders remain a significant global health challenge, necessitating the search for safer and more effective therapeutic agents. Portulaca oleracea has attracted considerable attention because of its rich phytochemical composition and reported neuroprotective properties. This study investigated the neuropharmacological and neuroprotective effects of aqueous Portulaca oleracea extract using the rat phrenic nerve–diaphragm preparation. The effects of the extract on neuromuscular transmission were compared with those of pancuronium and D-tubocurarine, two established non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. Under control conditions, normal diaphragm contractions were observed following phrenic nerve stimulation. Administration of pancuronium and D-tubocurarine produced concentration-dependent inhibition of contractile responses, which were reversed after tissue washing. Similarly, the aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea caused a marked reduction in contraction amplitude in a concentration-dependent manner, with substantial recovery following washing, indicating a reversible effect. Furthermore, physostigmine reversed both D-tubocurarine- and extract-induced blockades, suggesting the involvement of cholinergic mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. The findings indicate that Portulaca oleracea possesses significant neuropharmacological activity and may interfere with cholinergic neurotransmission through mechanisms comparable to those of classical non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers. These results provide additional evidence supporting the biological activity of Portulaca oleracea and highlight its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for further neuroprotective and neuromuscular research.

Keywords

Portulaca oleraceaneuropharmacologyneuroprotectionneuromuscular transmissionphrenic nerve–diaphragm preparationphysostigmineD-tubocurarinepancuronium.

References

Agbo J., Omale O. F., Hassan D. M., & Awodele O (2016). Current and Future Strategies for AD Therapy. Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 10(3): 1 – 15, Article no. JAMPS 28271 ISSN. 2394 – 1111. Daneva, Y., Zheleva-Dimitrova, D., & Simeonova, R. (2026). Comparative study on the effects of Portulaca oleracea extract and a commercial dietary supplement in spontaneously hypertensive rats with induced type 2 diabetes. Pharmacia, 73, 1-10. El Rabey, H. A., Rezk, S. M., Mahmoud, S. A., Abdallah, Z., Loutfy, M., Alalawy, A. I., ... & Bakry, N. (2025). Portulaca oleracea L. Methanolic Extract Protects the Brain of Male Rats Against Alzheimer’s Disease. Scientifica, 2025(1), 7701263. Ghorani, V., Saadat, S., Khazdair, M. R., Gholamnezhad, Z., El-Seedi, H., & Boskabady, M. H. (2023). Phytochemical characteristics and anti‐inflammatory, Immunoregulatory, and antioxidant effects of Portulaca oleracea L.: a comprehensive review. Evidence‐ Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2023(1), 2075444. Jalali, J., & Rahbardar, M. G. (2023). Ameliorative effects of Portulaca oleracea L.(purslane) and its active constituents on nervous system disorders: A review. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 26(1), 2. Kumar, A., Sreedharan, S., Kashyap, A. K., Singh, P., & Ramchiary, N. (2022). A review on bioactive phytochemicals and ethnopharmacological potential of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.). Heliyon, 8(1). Maliza, R., Syaidah, R., Setiawan, H., Yatalaththov, F. G., Yashiro, T., Arya, B., & Aini, W. (2026). Protective Effects of Acetone Extract of Portulaca oleracea L. on Liver Histopathology in Hypoxia-Induced Sprague-Dawley Rats. Jurnal Biota, 12(1), 91- 102. Martins, W. B., Rodrigues, S. A., Silva, H. K., Dantas, C. G., Júnior, W. D. L., FILHO, L. X., ... & Gomes, M. Z. (2016). Neuroprotective effect of Portulaca oleracea extracts against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesion of dopaminergic neurons. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 88(03), 1439-1450. Mitran, S. I., Muşat, M. I., Bejenaru, C., Mogoşanu, G. D., Boboc, I. K. Ş., Tudoraşcu, R. I., ... & Bejenaru, L. E. (2025). Portulaca oleracea extract modulates diet-dependent neuroplasticity in a murine model of MCD-induced NAFLD and depression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(20), 10050. Ngouana, V., Pewoupa, P. L. N., Kamdem, B. P., Nangap, J. M. T., Kemzeu, R., Tonga, S. L. K., ... & Boyom, F. F. (2025). Effects of Portulaca oleracea extract on Experimentally Induced Gastric Lesions in Wistar Rats: Antioxidative Action in Gastroprotection. Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry, 15(6), 183-206. Patwa, J. K. (2024). Chapter-1 To Investigate the Neuroprotective Potential of Portulaca oleracea in Acrylamide Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats. MEDICAL, 55, 1. Rakhshandeh, H., Rajabi Khasevan, H., Saviano, A., Mahdinezhad, M. R., Baradaran Rahimi, V., Ehtiati, S., ... & Askari, V. R. (2022). Protective effect of Portulaca oleracea on streptozotocin-induced type I diabetes-associated reproductive system dysfunction and inflammation. Molecules, 27(18), 6075.

Neuropharmacological and Neuroprotective Effect of Portulaca oleracea Extract in Rats

Abstract

Keywords

References

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH