Sesuvium portulacastrum
Shoreline purslane
Sesuvium portulacastrum, commonly known as sea purslane, is a resilient succulent herb found in coastal environments worldwide. Renowned for its medicinal properties, it possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Often used in traditional medicine to treat skin ailments and digestive issues, this plant offers vast pharmacological potential.
- Scientific name: Sesuvium portulacastrum
- Family: Aizoaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is further categorized into the family Aizoaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sesuvium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Aizoaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Sesuvium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Sesuvium portulacastrum, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 海马齿 (zh-hans), 海馬齒 (zh-hant), and 海馬齒 (zh-hk). In Vietnamese, the plant is commonly called Hải châu, while in Russian, it is known as Сезувиум портулакoвидный.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 海马齿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 海馬齒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 海馬齒 | Wikidata |
| vi | Hải châu | Wikidata |
| ru | Сезувиум портулаковидный | Wikidata |
| th | ผักเบี้ยทะเล | Wikidata |
| tl | Dampalit | Wikidata |
| to | Kihikihimaka | Wikidata |
| zh | 海马齿 | Wikidata |
| fa | سسویوم پرتالاکستروم | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions within the North African and Macaronesian territories. In North Africa, it can be found growing in Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Its range extends further into the Macaronesian islands, specifically inhabiting the Canary Islands. Additionally, the species is documented to grow in the Cape Verde archipelago. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's presence across diverse coastal and island environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Sesuvium portulacastrum, is characterized by its fleshy, succulent leaf structures that are well-adapted to saline environments. These leaves are typically cylindrical or oblong in shape, possessing a smooth texture and a vibrant green color that allows the plant to store significant amounts of water. In medicinal applications, the succulent nature of the leaf is often utilized, as it contains various bioactive compounds essential for its therapeutic properties.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Sesuvium portulacastrum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Na, phenols, steroids, tannins, terpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Na | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Sesuvium portulacastrum has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Sesuvium portulacastrum has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, antioxidant, postprandial hyperglycemia.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| postprandial hyperglycemia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |