China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Assyria
Published in Michael J. O’Dowd, The History of Medications for Women, 2020
The caper (Capparis spinosa) was known in Assyria as ‘the plant of the female pudenda perhaps suggested to the Babylonian mind by the [vulval] appearance of the flower’ and was considered a ‘drug for begetting and seed-setting’. The association between caper and vulva is probably the earliest example of what became referred to as the ‘Doctrine of signatures’, a system where like cures like, for example, heart-shaped plant leaves for heart conditions; red flowers for treating the blood; yellow flowers for jaundice. The caper contains capric acid which is responsible for its flavor. Never very popular as a medication, the plant has been used as a condiment and pickle for over 2000 years (Stuart, 1989 p. 165).
Prospects of Local Flora of Trans-Himalayan Region of Ladakh for Various Medicinal Uses
Published in Parimelazhagan Thangaraj, Medicinal Plants, 2018
Gyan P. Mishra, Tsering Stobdan, Parimelazhagan Thangaraj, Tania Seth, Bijendra Singh
Capparis spinosa is highly nutritious plant having immense medicinal properties. In Ladakh, various medicinal preparations from Capparis are used by the Amchis (traditional doctors) for treatment of various ailments. C. spinosa extract was able to counteract the inflammatory process induced in vitro by IL-1β in human chondrocyte cultures (Panico et al. 2005). Previous chemical studies have reported the presence of alkaloids, lipids, flavonoids and glucosinolates (which are known as flavour compounds), cancer-preventing agents and biopesticides (Bhoyar et al. 2010; Mikkelsen et al. 2000; Germano et al. 2002). Capers are a hepatic stimulant that has been used for improving the functional efficiency of the liver. Recent experimental work also confirms its protective action on the histological architecture of the liver and its positive effect on liver glycogen and serum proteins (Subhose et al. 2005).
Increasing the Sensitivity of Adipocytes and Skeletal Muscle Cells to Insulin
Published in Christophe Wiart, Medicinal Plants in Asia for Metabolic Syndrome, 2017
Ethanol extract of roots of Capparis spinosa L. given to streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day for 28 evoked a decrease in glycemia and had no effect on plasma insulin and improved plasma lipids implying, at least, increased insulin sensitivity.90 One could speculate that principles of Capparis spinosa and/or metabolites may lower plasma glucose by increasing glucose absorption by skeletal muscles and adipocytes via probable adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation. Of note, ethanol extract of fruits of Capparis spinosa L. given at a dose of 400 mg, 3 times per day before meals to type 2 diabetic patients for 2 months reduced fasting glycemia and plasma, triglycerides.91 Intake of caper could be of value in metabolic syndrome.
Modulatory effect of isopulegol on hepatic key enzymes of glucose metabolism in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Published in Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2021
Karunanithi Kalaivani, Chandrasekaran Sankaranarayanan
Hepatic glucose production through gluconeogenesis is responsible for diabetic complications. The crucial enzymes of gluconeogenesis are glucose6-phosphatase and PEPCK. Glucose6-phosphatase, an enzyme of the endoplasmic reticulum works as the final gate keeper in the release of glucose to blood. It catalyses the irreversible conversion of glucose6-phosphate to glucose whose activity is increased in diabetic state (Chakravarty et al. 2005). PEPCK another important mitochondrial enzyme is involved in the conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate thereby enhancing gluconeogenesis. The expression of this enzyme is controlled by the transcription factor CREB (Lin and Accili 2011). In the present study an upregulation of CREB, with increased PEPCK activity was observed in diabetic rats. Administration of isopulegol significantly down regulated CREB expression and decreased PEPCK activity. Similarly, the activity of glucose6- phosphatase was decreased in diabetic treated rats. Our findings are in line with Jalali et al., who reported that aqueous extract of Capparis spinosa decreased gluconeogenesis by decreasing mRNA expression and enzymic activities of glucose6-phosphatase and PEPCK in the liver of diabetic treated rats (Jalali et al. 2016).
Effect of flavonoids rich extract of Capparis spinosa on inflammatory involved genes in amyloid-beta peptide injected rat model of Alzheimer's disease
Published in Nutritional Neuroscience, 2018
Nazanin Mohebali, Seyed Abolhassan Shahzadeh Fazeli, Hossein Ghafoori, Zeinab Farahmand, Elham MohammadKhani, Faezeh Vakhshiteh, Abdolreza Ghamarian, Mansoureh Farhangniya, Mohammad Hossein Sanati
Capparis spinosa, also known as capers, is one of the plants which has been reported to have anti-inflammatory13 and anti-oxidant14–16 properties. It mainly grows in the Mediterranean basin such as Iran17 and has been used as a traditional medicine since 2000 BC, reported in ancient manuscripts by Iranians, Sumerians, Greeks, and Romans.18 In this study, we aim to survey the potential effects of C. spinosa extract on amyloidogenic related genes in Aβ-injected rat. C. spinosa leaves and fruits were analyzed for their total phenolic content and flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin. Leaves extract of C. spinosa was chosen to treat Aβ-injected rats to study alterations in BACE-1, APP, PSEN-1, and PSEN-2 genes expression.
Efficacy and Safety of a Traditional Herbal Combination in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Published in Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2021
Saeed Mehrzadi, Reza Mirzaei, Mojtaba Heydari, Maryam Sasani, Bahman Yaqoobvand, Hasan Fallah Huseini
The herbal capsule was prepared by mixture of Capparis spinosa (170 mg), Rosa canina (225 mg), Securidaca securigera (170 mg), Silybum marianum (65 mg), Urtica dioica (170 mg), Trigonella foenum-graecum (115 mg) and Vaccinium arctostaphylos (85 mg) extracts (1000 mg) in two capsule. Metformin capsules were filled with 250 mg of metformin mixed with toasted powder. Placebo capsules were filled with toasted powder.