Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) effects on serum paraoxanase-1 activity

Purslane (Khurfeh) is one of the richest sources of omega3 fatty acids in plants and it has many antioxidants and minerals in its different parts. High density lipoprotein (HDL) has antioxidant effects because of Paraoxanase-1 (PON1) enzyme which attaches to HDL particles and circulates with it in blood. PON1 is responsible for hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids. The aims of this study were investigating the Purslane effects on Paraoxanase-1 activity and lipoproteins levels, especially oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and to compare these effects with Lovastatin. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained from patients who were referred to an internal clinic with LDL-C more than 100 mg/dl. Five ml of blood was taken before and 45 days after taking Purslane or Lovastatin. Subsequently the levels of all variables in the samples were measured using standard methods. Results were analyzed using paired t-test and t-test. There was a significant decrease in serum level of cholesterol, LDL-C and OxLDL in two groups after receiving Purslane or Lovastatin (P<0.05). ApoB was decreased only after taking Lovastatin. PON1 arylesterase activity was increased only in Purslane group following increasing of Apo A1 and HDL-C. Body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride was decreased in Purslane group (P<0.05). Purslane reduces some cardiovascular risk factors through decreasing OxLDL, LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increasing activity of paraoxanase-1 enzyme and HDL-C concentration. In addition, Purslane can increase ApoA1 better than Lovastatin.