Capparis Spinosa

A species of Capparaceae family, Caper is a thorny, creeping shrub which has extensive roots. The plant, which grows under the conditions of Mediterranean Climate, is one of the cultivated plants used for
food, cosmetics and medical purposes. Various historical records give information about use methods of caper in the ancient period and this information indicate that the use of this plant has not changed much
until today. According to this information, it is one of the important agricultural export products also in the ancient period. The plant, which is found to be used for medical purposes, was prescribed for treatment of spleen, liver, tooth and ear, infected bruises, coughing and skin diseases and stroke. Caper was considered as a beneficial food according to some resources, while it was listed among foods with low nutritive value in some resources. It was among various foods in the ancient period as it is today.

Özet Kapari (Capparis spinosa), Capparaceae familyasından olup verimsiz ve elverişsiz topraklar ve yüksek sıcaklık gibi olumsuz çevre koşullarına karşı tolerans sahibi olduğu için oldukça önemli bir bitkidir. Ülkemizde genel olarak İç Anadolu, Doğu Karadeniz ve Güneydoğu bölgesinde yetişen bu bitki türü lignoselülozik hammadde olarak oldukça önemli bir yere sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, orman ürünleri endüstrisinde değerlendirilebilirliğini araştırmak için kapari bitkisinin kimyasal içeriği ve lif morfolojik özellikleri belirlenmiştir. Yapılan çalışma sonucunda, kapari bitkisinin kimyasal içeriği yapraklı ağaç odunlarının kimyasal içeriği ile benzer oranlarda çıkmıştır. Lif uzunluğu, lif genişliği ve çeper kalınlığı ise sırasıyla 0.36 mm, 17.18 µm ve 3.33 µm olarak tespit edilmiştir. Kağıt üretimine uygunluğunu belirlemede kullanılan ve lif boyutları ile hesaplanan lif parametrelerinden keçeleşme oranı ve elastiklik katsayısı ise sırasıyla 21.79 ve 60.34 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, kapari bitkisinin kimyasal ve lif morfolojik özellikleri bakımından yonga levha, liflevha ve odun plastik kompozitleri gibi orman ürünleri endüstrisinde kullanılabilir bir hammadde olduğu ve kağıt üretimi için uygun bir hammadde olmadığı tespit edilmiştir.

Background: Recently, due to the steep increase in cancer lethality statistics, pharmaceutical societies seek approaches for designing drugs with higher efficiency and lower expenses. Plant-based drugs have therefore gained much attention, due to their abundance and ease of accessibility, and their higher effectiveness. Methods: Wild-grown caper [Capparis spinosa (C. spinosa)] was collected from northern Iran and next 100 g of the powder was added to 300 ml of a solvent (Ethanol 80), the solution was mixed for 72 hr and later filtered via Whatman filter papers. The solvent was taken out under vacuum conditions and extracts were then collected and stored in glass vials. The High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was used to assay quercetin which consisted of the following specifications: C18 column, UV detector wavelength of 260 nm, mobile phase acetonitrile and water and flow rate of 1 ml/min. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of C. spinosa extract on HeLa, MCF7, Sao...

Three-variable-three-level Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology (BBD-RSM) based on the single-factor experiments was used to optimize the extracting parameters of crude polysaccharides (CPSs) from the Capparis spinosa leaves (CSL) including extraction time (ETi, 60-120min), extraction temperature (ETe, 60-80°C), and the water/solid ratio (W/S, 6-16). The optimal process conditions in order to the highest yield (6.73%) of CSL-CPSs were 119.8min ETi, 72.84°C ETe, and 15.97:1W/S.Structure of polysaccharide extracted at the optimal operating point were identified by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). CSL-CPSs (50-300μg/L) revealed significantly scavenging activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and OH free-radicals in vitro. A much more antimicrobial activity using this polysaccharide against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriaeandSalmonella typhi) was found than Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus panis and Staphylococcus aureus). CSL-CPSs can thus be used as anexcellent antioxidant and antimicrobial ingredient in food and medicinal preparations.

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) are colloidal systems with particles ranging from 10 to 100 nm in diameter. Because of their large surface-volume ratio, NPs are biologically active materials that could interact with biomolecules and microorganisms, enter into the cells, and affect the metabolic functions. The study aimed to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) from Capparis spinosa fruit aqueous extract, and evaluate their Ag nanostructure characterization and antifungal activity. Materials and Methods: Capparis spinosa fruit aqueous was prepared with the percolation method. Then, silver NPs were synthesized using 0.01 M silver nitrate solution, and their formation was validated by color changing of the solution from green to dark brown. The NPs were purified using centrifugation and then dried in an oven for further analyses. Ag-NPs nanostructure characterization was determined by various techniques such as Fourier Transforms Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Antifungal activity of Ag-NPs against three pathogenic fungi of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Kluyveromyces marxianus was also evaluated using the microdilution method. Results: Synthesis of Ag-NPs from aqueous extract of C. spinosa fruit was done successfully. UV-Vis spectrum of Ag-NPs showed an absorbance peak around 420 nm, revealing Ag-NPs surface plasmon resonance (K max). FTIR analysis showed that functional groups correspond to plant bioactive components, promoting the formation of Ag-NPs. Furthermore, spherical uniformity of the synthesized Ag-NPs from plant extract was confirmed by SEM analysis within the 50-80 nm size range. Our results showed that the produced Ag-NPs were spherical and in a suitable form and size (50-80 nm). The biosynthesized Ag-NPs had an inhibitory effect against all tested fungi with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 2500, 5000, and 625 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration of 10000, 10000, and 156.25 µg/mL for C. albicans, C. glabrata, and K. marxianus, respectively. Conclusion: According to the UV-Vis spectrum, FTIR, and SEM results, we succeeded in synthesizing Ag-NPs from C. spinosa fruit aqueous extract. This research was the first report of Ag-NPs synthesized from aqueous extract of C. spinosa fruit. Our simple, quick, and inexpensive method for biosynthesis of a nanoparticle, which showed antifungal activity, provides a new potential antifungal agent for therapeutic applications.

Since ancient times medicinal plants have been used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases because they possess various bioactive components that promote the health of humans with minimal side effects. WHO reveals that 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine and China uses up to 50% of medicines as traditional medicine. Modern research acknowledged the importance of using various medicinal systems like Siddha, Ayurveda, and Unani in India and also acts as the vital sources for new drugs. As global warming is showing its negative effects there may be the loss of plant productivity due to high temperatures and severe drought conditions that affect global food security. Hence this review focused on a Xerophilous crop that was well adapted to severe drought and high temperatures namely Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) The review also focuses on the recent literature on phytochemical composition and pharmacological effects of Caper.