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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Name |
Capparis spinosa
Linn. (Capparidaceae)
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The Caper
Bush |
Himsra |
Cabra |
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| History |
 The
Caper bark does not appear to have been used as a medicine by the
Hindus until introduced by the Mohameddans. Its fruits were mentioned
in Sanskrit works. It also appeared in Greek and Latin works. The
author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya gave a good description of the plant
and mentioned the root bark as the most active part. He considered
it to be hot and dry that acted as a detergent and astringent, expelling
cold humors. It was recommended in dropsy, gouty and rheumatic affections.
All parts of the plant was said to have a stimulating and astringent
effect when applied externally. The fresh plant yielded a volatile
oil having the properties of garlic oil.
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| Habitat |
It grows in Afghanistan,
West Asia, Europe, North Africa and Australia. In India it grows from
Punjab and Rajasthan to the Deccan Peninsula.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A prostrate, glabroscent,
polymorph shrub or climber armed with divaricate light yellow thorns,
occurring in dry rocky and stony soils. Branches terete and glabrous
or pubescent. Leaves are variable in texture, orbicular to elliptic,
base rounded and apex mucronate. Flowers are white, solitary, axillary.
Sepals are sub equal, petals are white, and its anther filaments are
purple and are longer than the petals. The berry is ellipsoid, ovoid
or obovoid and pericarp thin. The seeds are 3-4 mm in diam., globose,
smooth and brown.
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| Principal
Constituents |
The cortex and leaves
contain stachydrine and 3-hydroxystachydrine. The root contains, glucobrassicin,
neoglucobrassicin and 4-methoxy-glucobrassicin. The crude extract
of the flowerbuds contains 162 volatile constituents of which isothiocyanates,
thiocyanates, sulphides and their oxidative products have been identified
as the major components1. The seeds and leaves contain
glucocapparin and glucocleomin. The root bark contains stachydrine,
rutic acid and a volatile substance with garlic odour.
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| Pharmacology |
Liv.52, a Ayurvedic
preparation is reported to protect albino rats against toxic effects
of beryllium compounds, and mice against Semiliki Forest Virus (SFV)
2.
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| Indications |
The plant is credited with anti-tubercular
property. The root bark is extensively used in Ayurvedic system of
medicine. The bark is bitter, diuretic and expectorant. It is given
in spleen, renal and hepatic complaints. The bruised leaves are applied
as a poultice in gout. An extract of the plant is one of the constituents
of the Ayurvedic preparation `Liv.52' administered to treat preliminary
cases of acute viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver; and has shown
encouraging results against viral infection in man. The plant extract
is also a constituent of another drug `Geriforte' useful in treating
senile pruritis, itching and other ailments associated with old age
and anxiety neurosis.
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| Product
Range |
Bonnisan, Geriforte
(GeriCare / StressCare), Liv.52 (LiverCare), Liv.52 drops, Digyton,
Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet, Liv.52 Vet (Companion), Liv.52 Vet (Commercial), Himmune.
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| References |
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- Schraudolf, Phytochemistry, 1989, 28, 259; Brevard et. al.,
Flav Fraqr J, 1992, 7, 313.
- Mathur et. al., Curr Sci, 1986, 55, 899; Handa et.
al., Fitoterapia, 1986, 57, 347; Sama et. al., Indian
J med Res, 1976, 64, 738; Bhargava & Soni, Rajasthan med J,
1980, 19, 23; Gupta et. al., Probe, 1979-80, 19, 99; Khandeparker
& Kulkarni, Indian Drugs , 1980-81, 18, 346.
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