The effect of light on fatty acid concentrations of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.): A promising plant for decreasing serum cholesterol levels

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), a widely-distributed annual herb, was grown under three irradiances to determine the effect of light on fatty acid concentration of leaves, and to establish its potential effect on lowering serum cholesterol levels in rabbits which were previously submitted under a coconut oil rich diet. The seedlings grown under full sun, partial (30% of full sun) and deep shade (10% of full sun) were analyzed by gas chromatography for fatty acid concentrations, and fed to rabbits with induced high serum cholesterol. The lower irradiances tended to increase concentrations of polar fraction fatty acids in leaves, including 18:3w3, an omega 3 fatty acid and 18:2w6. The relative proportion of fatty acids changed under low irradiance which also reduced the mole fraction of a number of saturated fatty acids, including 14:0, 23:0, 24:0 and 25:0. The experiments with rabbits, fed with a coconut oil rich diet to induce high blood cholesterol, indicated that Purslane rapidly decreased the high cholesterol concentration. Low light-grown Purslane was a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and had the potential to lower serum cholesterol.