Capparis Spinosa Case Study

Capparis spinosa L. belongs to the family Capparaceae is distributed throughout India and commonly known as Maratimokku in Tamil. In the present study attempts were made to assess the phytochemical, nutraceutical and chemical composition, pharmacological properties and safety profiles of C. spinosa. Powder microscopy revealed characteristics features of C. spinosa. Preliminary phytochemical screening of flower buds of C. spinosa L. revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins, anthraquinones and lignins in aqueous extract. The nutraceutical and chemical compositions exposed the presence of good measures of studied parameters. Strong anti-oxidant activity was noticed in aqueous extract based on the results of DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation assays, which are compared
C.spinosa L. is a perennial spiny bush that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and big white to pinkish white flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region and growing wild on walls or in rocky coastal areas throughout India. The phytochemicals identified in this plant were lipids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, lignins, glucocapperin, and polyphenols (Al-Said et al 1988; Calis et al. 2002; Manikandaselvi and Brindha 2014). Even though it has been used in traditional Indian system of medicines for various human diseases, the summation of its medicinal properties is lacking. C. spinosa L. has anthelminthic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, cardiovascular, chondroprotective, anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-allergic, anti-histaminic, immune modulatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-hepatotoxic activity (Eddouks et al 2004; Inocencio et al.