The effects of Portulaca oleracea L (purslane) on psychologic symptoms and malondialdehyde level in schizophrenic patients

Despite the availability of antipsychotic drugs، a large number of patients with schizophrenia do not show a good response to monotherapy with these drugs. In this study we evaluated the effect of purslane on psychologic symptoms and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in schizophrenic patients in Sina Hospital. This randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 60 chronic schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone in Sina Hospital in Joneghan، Iran between 2011 and 2012. Patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The control group received risperidone 6mg/day and biperiden 4mg/day for 8 weeks. The Patients in the intervention group received 1g extract of purslane daily in addition to risperidone and biperiden for 8 weeks. The scales for assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS)، assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and MDA level were recorded at the baseline and at the end of the 8th week of study. Data analysis was performed by using mean، SD، student t-test and paired t- test. At the end of the study، the respective mean scores of positive symptoms were 47. 93±18. 56 in the intervention and 57. 1±14. 83 in the control group (P<0. 05)، and the mean scores of negative symptoms were 40. 83±11. 03 in the intervention and 46. 13± 9. 34 in the control group (P<0. 05). In addition، the MDA levels of the patients in the intervention and control groups were 3. 25±1. 25 and 5. 43± 1. 76 respectively (P<0. 05). According to findings of this study، simultaneous use of purslane and respridone can lead to improvement of psychological condition and decreased MDA level in the patients with chronic schizophrenia.