Capers

Generic name: Capparis Spinosa L.
Brand names: Alcaparro (Spanish, Portugese), Alcappara (Spanish, Portugese), Caper, Caperberry, Caperbush, Cappero (Italian), Fabagelle (French), Himsra (India), Kabarra (Punjabi), Kapernstrauch (German), Kapersy (Russian), Kapper (German), Kappertjes (Dutch), Kaprics

Usage of Capers

Few high-quality clinical trials exist.

Antimicrobial

A butanolic caper extract exerted antimicrobial effects greater than those of aqueous extracts in in vitro experiments. Clinical importance was not evaluated and no comparison was made with standard antimicrobial agents.(Ali-Shtayeh 1999, Mahasneh 2002)

Antioxidant

Methanol extracts of the flower buds have been evaluated for antioxidant effect. Inhibition of lipid oxidation has been demonstrated in vitro; the mechanism is attributed to a cooperative interaction(Tesoriere 2007) between the tocopherol, flavonoid, and isothiocyanate chemical constituents.(Germano 2002, Tesoriere 2007)

Hepatoprotective

Animal data

In rats, p-Methoxy benzoic acid, from an aqueous C. spinosa extract, protected against induced hepatotoxicity,(Gadgoli 1999) while the fruit extract significantly atTenuated liver injury, improved liver inflammation, and decreased elevated liver enzymes in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model.(Akbari 2020)

Clinical data

A clinical trial investigating the efficacy of a mixed preparation containing caper extract combined with other extracts found an improvement in liver function laboratory values.(Huseini 2005)

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome

Animal data

Experiments in diabetic rats have reported a hypoglycemic effect.(Eddouks 2004)

Clinical data

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 60 Iranian adults investigated the antihyperglycemic effect of caper fruit extract (1,200 mg/day, equivalent to 5 g/day caper fruit on average). Participants were type 2 diabetic patients who were stabilized for 2 months on a diabetic food regimen and antidiabetic medications prior to study initiation. After 2 months of treatment, consumption of the caper extract led to a significant improvement in fasting blood Glucose (FBG; mean change, −20.2 mg/dL; P=0.037) and HgA1c (mean change, −0.4%; P=0.043) compared to controls; no significant changes were observed in any lipid parameters, liver enzymes, or other lab values. Compared to baseline, FBG and triglycerides improved significantly in the caper group (P=0.005 and P=0.29, respectively). No adverse effects were seen in either group.(Huseini 2013) In a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (N=30) that enrolled patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, administration of a 10% hydroalcoholic fruit extract of C. spinosa oxymel (standardized to rutin content and mixed in a grape vinegar and lactulose syrup) for 3 months did not significantly glucose or lipid parameters compared to controls. Mean body weight was the only significant parameter improved with caper fruit oxymel (−2.8 kg; P=0.01).(Vahid 2019)

Hypolipidemic

In normal and diabetic (induced) rats fed aqueous extracts of the powdered caper fruits for a 2-week period, a reduction in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides was demonstrated.(Eddouks 2005)

Immune

A 2% methanol caper extract in aqueous gel inhibited Histamine-induced erythema in human volunteers.(Trombetta 2005) A protective effect on chondrocyte cells was shown in vitro and may be due to activation of an immune response.(Panico 2005)

Other uses

Caper leaf extract, which was found to exhibit antioxidant properties approximately 6 times that of the fruit extract, significantly improved sperm motility and viability (P<0.05 for each) in sperm collected from 20 to 45-year-old males.(Khojesteh 2021) In a an ischemic stroke rat model, pre-treatment with caper extract once daily for 7 days prior to occlusion significantly improved neurological deficit, infarction volume, and cerebral histopathological changes.(Rakhshandeh 2021)

Capers side effects

The topical application of wet compresses soaked in fluid containing capers has been associated with the development of contact dermatitis.Angelini 1991 A food allergy to caper fruit and bud was cOnfirmed with skin prick tests in a 22-year-old man after he presented to the emergency department with angioedema of the face and hands, redness, and aphonia.Alcántara 2013

Before taking Capers

Generally recognized as safe when used as food. Capers have been used in traditional Arabian medicine as an emmenagogue and should be avoided during pregnancy.Khanfar 2003

How to use Capers

A 2% aqueous gel has been used for antihistaminic effects.Trombetta 2005 Approximately 600 mg of dried whole plant extract per day has been used in a mixed preparation in experiments investigating hepatoprotective effects.Huseini 2005

Diabetes

Average doses recommended by herbalists in Iranian ethnobotanic medicine are 2 to 8 g/day of dry pickled caper fruits. A dose of hydro-alcoholic caper fruit extract 400 mg taken 3 times daily was used in a clinical trial in type 2 diabetics patients.Eddouks 2005

Warnings

Information is limited. No reduction of cell viability was demonstrated by a methanol extract of capers.Panico 2005 Related species may be poisonous.Simon 1984

What other drugs will affect Capers

None well documented.

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