Fatty acid composition, phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of Capparis spinosa sedes

The present study evaluates the contents in bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, oil content and fatty acid composition of Capparis spinosa seeds. Samples were collected from 5 different habitats (AH: Ahar; KU: Kurdistan; U1, U2 and U3: Urmia) in Iran. The oil content in the seeds ranged from 16 to 27%. The predominant fatty acid was linoleic acid (45-50%) followed by oleic acid (30-39%), palmitic acid (2-8%) and stearic acid (2-3%). Total phenolic content (TPC) varied from 16.3 to 24.2 mg GAE/ g DW; total flavonoid content (TFC) ranged from 1.48 to 3.05 mg QE/g DW; and the antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) of the seeds was between 35 and 63%. The compounds obtained from different genotypes of C. spinosa seeds had different compositions, great antioxidant capacity and unsaturated fatty acids, and therefore could be a prospective source of natural bioactive molecules for the food and health industry.

Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Improves Capparis spinosa’s Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthetic Efficiency under Water Deficit

Agricultural yields are under constant jeopardy as climate change and abiotic pressures spread worldwide. Using rhizospheric microbes as biostimulants/biofertilizers is one of the best ways to improve agro-agriculture in the face of these things. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether a native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum (AMF-complex) might improve caper (Capparis spinosa) seedlings’ nutritional status, their morphological/growth performance and photosynthetic efficiency under water-deficit stress (WDS). Thus, caper plantlets inoculated with or without an AMF complex (+AMF and −AMF, respectively) were grown under three gradually increasing WDS regimes, i.e., 75, 50 and 25% of field capacity (FC). Overall, measurements of morphological traits, biomass production and nutrient uptake (particularly P, K+, Mg2+, Fe2+ and Zn2+) showed that mycorrhizal fungi inoculation increased these variables significantly, notably in moderate and severe WDS conditions. The increased WDS levels reduced the photochemical efficiency indices (Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo) in −AMF plants, while AMF-complex application significantly augmented these parameters. Furthermore, the photosynthetic pigments content was substantially higher in +AMF seedlings than −AMF controls at all the WDS levels. Favorably, at 25% FC, AMF-colonized plants produce approximately twice as many carotenoids as non-colonized ones. In conclusion, AMF inoculation seems to be a powerful eco-engineering strategy for improving the caper seedling growth rate and drought tolerance in harsh environments.

VITAMINS AND ALKALOIDS IN SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS (ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM L., CAPPARIS SPINOSA L., HYPERICUM PERFORATUM L.) AND THEIR EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

This article provides information on the morpho-physiological characteristics, chemical composition, especially the amount of alkaloids and vitamins, and their function in the body, as well as thorn bushes, hole field, yarrow plants, which are considered medicinal plants.The article deals with the botanical and morpho-physiological characteristics of the plant Achillea Millefolium L., one of the medicinal plants used in scientific medicine, systematics, some biologically active substances in the chemical composition, especially vitamins and alkaloids, their function in the body and their role in human health. details are given.The following article describes the role of Capparis spinosa L. in modern taxonomy, its distribution, the structure and properties of the most common alkaloids and vitamins in the plant, and its biochemical functions in the human body.The article concludes with a detailed description of the morpho-physiological characteristics of the plant Hypericum Perforatum L., its chemical composition, especially the amount of alkaloids and vitamins and their function in the body and their role in human health.

Collection Guidelines to Achieve a Viable Caper Commercial Propagation

The caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial plant characteristic of the Mediterranean region that presents difficulties in its propagation, both vegetatively and by seeds. The main aim of this study is to provide collection guidelines to achieve a viable caper commercial propagation, for which three experiments were undertaken to determine the viability and germination in different seed lots. In the first experiment, commercial and own produced seeds (collected with the same criteria as commercial seeds) were analysed; the commercial seeds presented the lowest viability and germination. The second experiment analysed the effect of the fruit (from which the seeds were extracted) at its maturation stage, obtaining the lowest seed viability and germination in the seeds extracted from the dry fruits. In the third experiment, seed viability and germination were analysed immediately after collection, following a short drying period (3 d), and after six storage months. Viability and germination decreased with seed storage. Overall, it can be stated that caper seeds are sensitive to desiccation; consequently, a general rule of thumb is to collect the fruits once a week, to extract the seeds, and to plant them immediately for germination.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES, RESOURCES AND PROTECTION OF CAPPARIS SPINOSA L. (CAPPARACEAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN ADYRS OF THE FERGANA VALLEY

This work is devoted to the study of the medicinal properties of Capparis spinosa L. on the basis of the literatures and the assessment of natural resources in the Chust adyrs of the Namangan region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the protection measures. The medicinal properties of this plant are high, and it is widely used in folk and modern medicine, and the plant also contains a high concentration of nectar and is of great importance for beekeeping. In Europe it is used in the food industry and in cooking as a dietary product. Plants are one of the most demanded medicinal raw materials, the demand is growing, but the available natural resources cannot meet this demand. Expansion of the plantation of Capparis spinosa and with rational use we will be able to conserve the natural resources of the plant.

Capparis spinosa Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis via Regulation of the Gut Microbiota and Oxidative Stress

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Here, the potential effects of Capparis spinosa water extract (CSWE) on colonic histopathology, inflammation, and gut microbiota composition in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced UC mice were evaluated. Our results showed that CSWE treatment improved the colonic histopathology of UC mice, increased the levels of tight junction protein gene ZO-1 and Occludin in intestinal epithelial cells, and inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Furthermore, CSWE administration alleviated oxidative stress in the colon of UC mice. The effects of CSWE on the compositions and metabolomic profiles of the gut microbiota in UC mice were investigated. It was found that CSWE could enhance the diversity of gut microbes and the abundance of probiotics and metabonomics had the strongest association with Firmicutes. Our results indicated that CSWE might be an ideal candidate as a potential therapeutic natural product for the treatment of UC.

Relationships between chemical composition, antioxidant activity and genetic analysis with ISSR markers in flower buds of caper plants (Capparis spinosa L.) of two subspecies spinosa and rupestris of Spanish cultivars

Genetic diversity and variability between populations is essential for the long-term survival of plant species as well as their adaptation to different habitats. The Capparis spinosa L. has two subspecies in Spain, spinosa with stipules thorny and rupestris without them. In Spain, the subspecies used for its cultivation is spinosa, which is difficult to manipulate due to its stipules thorny. The capers, unripe fruits and tender shoots are used as food. The caper plant is a rich source of phenolic compounds, due to that many flavonoids have been found in different parts of caper plant and in high quantities, which indicates that it is a good source of functional compounds both as food and for nutraceutical applications. There are no published works on the differences in biochemical and functional compounds of both subspecies, so in this work 32 varieties have been genetically analyzed to know their subspecies. Afterwards, various biochemical and functional parameters have been analyzed to find out if they present differences between both subspecies. From the results of the biochemical and functional parameters studied, there are no difference between the spinosa and rupestis subspecies, in all the parameters studied, except chlorophylls. There was more difference between the results of the subspecies spinosa among them, than with the subspecies rupestris. For all this, it can be concluded that the rupestris subspecies that does not present stipules thorniness can be cultivated, instead of the spinosa subspecies that does present them, without losing functional or nutritional characteristics of the caper buds.

Toxicological assessment of Capparis spinosa L. seed’s oil

Introduction. Herbal medicines are unique therapeutic agents that represent multicomponent complexes of biologically active substances. They have low toxicity, a wide spectrum of therapeutic action with a minimum of side effects and a relatively low cost. Capparis spinosa L. has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases and health conditions. Material and methods. An assessment of the toxicometric parameters of Capparis spinosa L. seed’s oil was done by a single oral and dermal exposure, the average lethal doses have been calculated for both routes, sensitivity by sex has been studied. The local irritant, skin resorptive, effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes of experimental animals was investigated. Sensitizing activity was studied according to the complex sensitization scheme. Processing of the results was carried out by the method of variation statistics. Standard errors and other indicators were calculated using the Litchfield-Wilcoxon probabilistic analysis method modified by Prozorovsky. The difference in mean values was estimated using Student’s t-test. Results. The acute toxicity of the oil was not expressed, death of animals was not observed. Average lethal dose for a single oral exposure was above 7000 mg/kg and dermal more than 3000 mg/kg. Sensitivity by sex in an acute experiment has not been established. The oil had a mild irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes. It did not show skin-irritating, resorptive-toxic and sensitizing effects. Conclusion. Capparis spinosa L seed’s oil belongs to the 4th hazard class (low hazard) according to the hygienic classification and safety requirements of substances.