Capers

Scientific Name(s): Capparis spinosa L.
Common Name(s): 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), Kapricserje (Hungarian), Kapris (Finnish, Swedish), Kiari (Hindi), Kobra (Hindi), Lussef (Egyptian), Tapana (French, Spanish), Torkav (Estonian)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 30, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Pickled flower buds are used as a condiment. Limited clinical trials are lacking to support various traditional uses. Antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and immune actions are being investigated.

Dosing

Limited adequate clinical evidence exists to guide dosage. Diabetes mellitus type 2: 1,200 mg (400 mg 3 times daily) of caper fruit extract given over 2 months was used in a small clinical trial. Ethnobotanical medicinal use for diabetes includes doses of 2 to 8 g of caper fruit eaten per day.

Contraindications

Avoid use in patients hypersensitive to the plant species.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Generally recognized as safe when used as food. Capers have been used in traditional Arabian medicine for diabetes as well as an emmenagogue and should be avoided in pregnancy.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Topical use of capers may cause contact dermatitis. Food allergy has also been reported.

Toxicology

Information is limited.

Scientific Family

• Capparaceae
• Capparidaceae

Botany

C. spinosa L. is a member of the Capparidaceae family and is also known as C. rupestris and C. ovata Desf.Alkire 2017 C. spinosa is a dicotyledonous perennial shrub found throughout the Mediterranean countries of Europe, Asia, and North Africa where it prefers the dry heat and intense sunlight. The plant has been used for erosion control because the roots grow up to 3 m into the soil. It is also salt-tolerant and grows readily along shores within sea-spray zones. From mid-April to the end of September, capers may grow 1 to 1.5 m in height, spread 2 to 3 m, and bud white flowers up to 7.6 cm across. If unpicked, the caper bud will flower and produce a round berry fruit (caperberry). Two forms of the caper can be found, a spiny and a nonspiny variety. The genus has been reported to include 350 species.Alkire 2017, Andrade 1997, Inocencio 2002, Kelly 1991, USDA 2008

History

The caper has a long history of use as a culinary spice and remains widely used as a spice today. Archaeological findings in China indicate a medicinal use for the caper. In ancient Greece, the caper was used as a carminative (relieving flatulence) whereas records of ayurvedeic medicine include its use to improve liver function. Capers have also been used for arteriosclerosis, diuresis, kidney disinfectant, and as vermifuges and tonics.Alkire 2017, Jiang 2007, Simon 1984

In commercial operations, the unopened flower buds are collected by hand and pickled to produce the characteristic pungent taste and smell. Immature small leaves are also eaten as a vegetable or picked and used in salads and fish dishes. The fruits (ie, caperberry, capperone, taperone) are used in sauces or pickled and eaten similar to small gherkins. The strong flavor of caper comes from mustard oil; methyl isothiocyanate. Seeds of the caper have been traditionally used to preser...