Capparis aphylla Hayne ex Roth., Capparis sodada R. Br., Sodada decidua Forsskal.
Family
:
Capparaceae
General Info
Description
Shrub with a smooth exterior. Bark is gray, rough and corky, covered with straight or recurved, 3-7 mm long, paired thorns; leaves are only on young branches, caducous, linear, 1-2 cm long, apex short, stiff, pale mucro-like prickle; flowers are red or pink, rarely yellow, in lateral corymbs; berries are globose or ovoid, 1-2 cm in diameter, dull red; seeds are globose, 2-5 mm in diameter.
Herb Effects
Astringent (root bark); laxative and stimulant (plant); antibacterial (seed).
Chemistry
Active Ingredients
Capparine, capparinine and cappariline (bark); polyphenols (plant); glucocapparin (seed).
Useful in cough, asthma and inflammations (root bark); as a poultice on boils and swellings, to relieve toothache (tender leaves); in remittent fevers and rheumatism (stem bark); to animals for stomach disturbances (decoction of ariel parts).
Reference
Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
Yadav P. Sarkar S. Bhatnagar D. Action of Capparis decidua against alloxan-induced oxidative stress and diabetes in rat tissues. Pharmacol Res1997 Sep;36(3):221-8.