Portulaca Oleracea Extract
Also known as Purslane extract, Common purslane extract, Portulaca extract
“CIR Expert Panel says: safe as used in cosmetics.”
The CIR Expert Panel assessed Portulaca Oleracea Extract as Safe Qualified (SQ) in the September 2022 Final Report covering 4 Portulaca oleracea-derived ingredients (Extract, Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Juice, Water), conditional on formulation to be non-sensitizing. Of the four, only Portulaca Oleracea Extract is reported in current cosmetic use. A 2025 Frontiers in Pharmacology study (PMID 40538548) showed an aqueous-extract carbomer hydrogel restored skin barrier function and suppressed JAK1/STAT inflammation in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis mice. A 2024 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of standardized purslane in chronic hand eczema (PMID 37872023, n=62, oral syrup route) demonstrated reductions in fissuring, itching, and dryness with adverse events of mild-to-moderate severity comparable to placebo. A 2026 rat infected-wound model (PMID 41863832) and a 2003 mouse excision-wound model (PMID 12963132) both reported faster healing with topical application and no reported topical safety concerns. The plant is rich in omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, phenolic antioxidants, betalain pigments, flavonoids, and mucilaginous polysaccharides — the basis for K-beauty soothing and anti-inflammatory positioning.
CIR-assessed Safe (SQ) for cosmetic use per the September 2022 Final Report covering Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Juice, and Water as a four-ingredient group
Skin-barrier restoration and anti-inflammatory activity in a DNCB atopic dermatitis mouse model via topical aqueous-extract hydrogel — JAK1 inhibition and STAT pathway suppression (PMID 40538548, 2025 Frontiers in Pharmacology)
Wound-healing acceleration in topical rat (PMID 41863832, 2026) and mouse (PMID 12963132, 2003) excision/infection wound models — VEGF-related marker activation, reduced TNF-alpha/IL-6/IL-1beta, and increased CD34 expression at the wound bed
Symptomatic improvement (reduced fissuring, itching, dryness) in a 4-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of standardized purslane in chronic hand eczema (PMID 37872023, 2024 Explore NY 20(3):401-410, n=62)
Constituent profile supports cosmetic positioning: omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (rare in topical botanicals), phenolic antioxidants (gallic acid, kaempferol, quercetin), betalain pigments, flavonoids, mucilaginous polysaccharides — the basis for K-beauty 'soothing' / 'anti-redness' marketing
Plant: Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae family) — edible succulent globally distributed; long traditional medicinal use (Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mediterranean folk medicine) for inflammatory skin conditions
CIR conclusion is conditional (SQ): the 'safe when formulated to be non-sensitizing' qualifier requires formulators to test for sensitization potential of the finished product; this is the same caveat applied to Rosmarinus and several other botanical extracts and is more cautious than the unconditional 'Safe' (S) verdict given to Calendula Flower Extract or Camellia Leaf Extract
Only Portulaca Oleracea Extract is reported to be in current cosmetic use among the four assessed Portulaca preparations; Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Juice, and Water are CIR-covered but not currently used per the 09/2022 report
The 2024 chronic hand eczema RCT reported adverse events in 32% of the purslane group vs 13% of placebo (p=0.068, not statistically significant) — but the route was oral syrup, not topical, so dermal sensitization profile is not directly informed by that trial
Variable extract composition by extraction solvent (aqueous, glycerin, ferment) and plant part — sensitization-relevant constituents (oxalates, allergenic proteins) are not standardized across commercial preparations
CIR Quick Reference Table (September 2022) — Portulaca Oleracea Extract row: Finding=SQ, Citation=Final Report Available from CIR 09/2022
“Portulaca Oleracea Extract | SQ | The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that the following 4 Portulaca oleracea-derived ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment when formulated to be non-sensitizing. Portulaca Oleracea Extract | Final Report Available from CIR 09/2022”— QuickReferenceTable_AllConclusionTypes.pdf, p. 443