Researchers combined results from five studies to see if purslane, a leafy green plant, could help lower blood pressure in adults. They found that eating purslane may reduce the top number of your blood pressure reading (systolic pressure) by about 3 points, which is small but could matter for heart health. The effect on the bottom number (diastolic pressure) was less clear overall, but it did help people over 40 and those with diabetes. While these results are promising, scientists say we need more and bigger studies to be sure purslane really works as a blood pressure treatment.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating purslane (a common plant used in cooking) could help lower blood pressure in adults
  • Who participated: Five different research studies involving adults aged 18 and older. Some studies compared people eating purslane to people eating regular food, while others had people try both.
  • Key finding: Purslane appeared to lower the top blood pressure number (systolic) by about 3 points on average. The bottom number (diastolic) didn’t change much overall, but it did improve in people over 40 and those with diabetes who took purslane for 12 weeks.
  • What it means for you: Purslane might be a helpful food to add to your diet if you’re trying to manage blood pressure, especially if you’re over 40 or have diabetes. However, it shouldn’t replace blood pressure medicine your doctor prescribed. Think of it as a helpful addition to healthy eating, not a cure.

The Research Details

This was a meta-analysis, which means researchers looked at five separate studies that had already been done and combined all their results together. Each of the five studies was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered the gold standard in medical research. In these trials, some adults were given purslane to eat while others got a placebo (fake treatment), and neither group knew which they were getting. This helps prove that any changes in blood pressure were actually from the purslane and not from people’s expectations or other factors.

The researchers searched multiple medical databases to find all the studies done on this topic. They only included studies where the only difference between groups was whether people ate purslane or not, and where blood pressure was measured before and after. They carefully checked each study’s quality using a standard checklist to make sure the research was done properly.

By combining results from multiple studies, researchers can see the bigger picture instead of relying on just one study. This approach is stronger because it reduces the chance that one study’s unusual results will mislead us. It also helps identify which groups of people might benefit most from purslane.

The researchers used a strict system called GRADE to rate how confident we should be in these results. They rated the evidence for lowering the top blood pressure number as ‘moderate’ quality, meaning it’s fairly reliable but has some limitations. The evidence for the bottom number was rated as ’low’ quality because there were fewer studies and some concerns about how the studies were done. The fact that there was high variation between studies (shown by something called I2 = 95.5%) means the studies didn’t all show the same results, which makes us less certain about the overall finding.

What the Results Show

When researchers combined all five studies, they found that people who ate purslane had their top blood pressure number (systolic pressure) drop by about 3 points compared to people who didn’t eat purslane. While 3 points might sound small, doctors say that even tiny reductions in blood pressure can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

The bottom blood pressure number (diastolic pressure) didn’t show a clear overall improvement when all studies were combined. However, when researchers looked at specific groups of people, they found that the bottom number did improve in three situations: among people older than 40, people with diabetes, and people who ate purslane for 12 weeks.

The researchers noted that the studies they looked at were quite different from each other in how they were done, which explains why the results varied so much. Some studies used different amounts of purslane, some lasted different lengths of time, and some studied different types of people.

When researchers broke down the results by different groups, they discovered that purslane seemed to work better for certain people. People over 40 years old showed better results than younger adults. People with diabetes saw improvements in both blood pressure numbers. Interestingly, studies that lasted 12 weeks showed better results than shorter studies, suggesting that you might need to eat purslane regularly for a few months to see benefits.

This is one of the first times researchers have combined multiple studies on purslane and blood pressure. Previous research on purslane suggested it might be healthy because it contains compounds that could help relax blood vessels, but scientists weren’t sure if this actually worked in real people. This meta-analysis provides stronger evidence that purslane may actually help, though more research is still needed.

The biggest limitation is that only five studies were included, which is a small number. Some of the studies were quite small with few participants. The studies used different amounts of purslane and lasted different lengths of time, making it hard to know the best way to use it. The researchers couldn’t find information about some important details from the studies. Most importantly, the studies were short-term, so we don’t know if purslane keeps working if you eat it for years. The quality of evidence was only moderate to low, meaning we should be cautious about how much we trust these results.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, purslane appears to be a safe food that may help lower blood pressure, particularly if you’re over 40 or have diabetes. You could try adding purslane to salads, smoothies, or cooked dishes as part of a healthy diet. However, this should never replace blood pressure medicine prescribed by your doctor. If you’re interested in trying purslane, talk to your doctor first, especially if you take blood pressure medications or have other health conditions. The confidence level for these recommendations is moderate—the evidence is promising but not yet definitive.

This research is most relevant for adults over 40 who have high blood pressure or want to prevent it, especially those with diabetes. People taking blood pressure medications should talk to their doctor before making dietary changes. Younger adults might see less benefit based on these findings. This is not a replacement for medical treatment but could be a helpful addition to a healthy lifestyle.

Based on the studies reviewed, you would likely need to eat purslane regularly for at least 12 weeks to see improvements in blood pressure. Don’t expect immediate results—think of it as a long-term dietary change rather than a quick fix. Even if you do see improvements, they will be modest (a few points), not dramatic.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your blood pressure readings weekly (same time of day) and note how many times per week you eat purslane. Record the amount and form (fresh, cooked, supplement). After 12 weeks, compare your average readings to your starting point.
  • Set a goal to include purslane in your diet 3-4 times per week. Start by adding a handful of fresh purslane to salads, or cook it as a side vegetable. Use the app to set reminders for purslane meals and track which recipes you try.
  • Create a 12-week purslane trial in the app. Log weekly blood pressure readings, purslane consumption frequency, and any other lifestyle changes. After 12 weeks, review your data to see if there’s a trend. Continue monitoring monthly afterward to see if benefits persist.

This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Purslane should not replace blood pressure medications prescribed by your doctor. Before adding purslane to your diet or making any changes to your blood pressure management plan, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you take medications, have diabetes, or have other health conditions. Some people may have allergies or interactions with medications. The evidence presented here is based on a limited number of studies, and more research is needed to fully understand purslane’s effects on blood pressure.