Portulaca oleracea L. is the dry aerial part of the Portulaca oleracea L. plant of the family Portulaca oleracea L. It is a common Chinese herbal medicine with the same origin as medicine and food. It is cold in nature and sour in taste. It has pharmacological effects such as bacteriostatic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, antioxidant and so on.The chemical components such as flavonoids and polysaccharides contained in Portulaca oleracea L. are inseparable from their functions. In view of the remarkable clinical effect of Portulaca oleracea L. on the prevention and treatment of various diseases, the research on the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Portulaca oleracea L. has become a hot spot in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. This article only makes a review of the research status and clinical application of Portulaca oleracea L. at home and abroad in recent years.