health & living center/ supplements a-z list /capers article

Capers

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Alcaparras, Cabra, Caper Bush, Capparis rupestris, Capparis spinosa, Cappero, Câprier, Câprier Épineux, Câpre, Câpres, Fabagelle, Himsra.

Overview

The caper is a plant. The unopened flower bud and other parts that grow above the ground are used for medicine.

People use capers for diabetes, fungal infections, chest congestion, worms in the intestines, and a skin disease caused by parasites called leishmaniasis. Capers are also used as a tonic.

Some people apply capers directly to the skin for dry skin and other skin disorders and for improving blood flow near the skin's surface.

Capers are also eaten as a food and used as a flavoring.

How does it work?

Capers contain chemicals that might help control blood sugar. Capers might also have antioxidant activity.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Diabetes.
  • Fungal infections.
  • Chest congestion.
  • Intestinal worms.
  • A skin disease caused by parasites (leishmaniasis).
  • Skin disorders, when applied directly.
  • Improving blood flow near the skin's surface, when applied directly.
  • Dry skin, when applied directly.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of capers for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Capers are LIKELY SAFE for most people when eaten as a food. There isn't enough information available to know if capers are safe in medicinal doses. Capers can cause skin rash and irritation.

Capers can cause skin rash and irritation.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Capers are LIKELY SAFE when eaten as food, but there's not enough information to know if they are safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, stick with food amounts until more is known.

Diabetes: There is some concern that capers might alter blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Monitor you blood sugar closely if you have diabetes and use capers.

Surgery: Capers might affect blood sugar levels. There is some concern that capers might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using capers at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Capers might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking capers along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of capers for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for capers. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

FDA Logo

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Arena, A., Bisignano, G., Pavone, B., Tomaino, A., Bonina, F. P., Saija, A., Cristani, M., D'Arrigo, M., and Trombetta, D. Antiviral and immunomodulatory effect of a lyophilized extract of Capparis spinosa L. buds. Phytother.Res. 2008;22(3):313-317. View abstract.

Bonina, F., Puglia, C., Ventura, D., Aquino, R., Tortora, S., Sacchi, A., Saija, A., Tomaino, A., Pellegrino, M. L., and de Caprariis, P. In vitro antioxidant and in vivo photoprotective effects of a lyophilized extract of Capparis spinosa L buds. J.Cosmet.Sci. 2002;53(6):321-335. View abstract.

Calis I, Kuruuzum A., and Ruedi P. 1H-Indole-3 acetonitrile glycosides from Capparis spinosa fruits. Phytochemistry 1997;50(7):1205-1208.

Calis I., Kuruuzum-Uz A., Lorenzetto P.A., and Ruedi P. (6S)-Hydroxy-3-oxo-alpha-ionol glucosides from Capparis spinosa fruits. Phytochemistry 2002;59(4):451-457.

Huseini, H. F., Alavian, S. M., Heshmat, R., Heydari, M. R., and Abolmaali, K. The efficacy of Liv-52 on liver cirrhotic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled first approach. Phytomedicine. 2005;12(9):619-624. View abstract.

Jiang, H. E., Li, X., Ferguson, D. K., Wang, Y. F., Liu, C. J., and Li, C. S. The discovery of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparidaceae) in the Yanghai Tombs (2800 years b.p.), NW China, and its medicinal implications. J Ethnopharmacol. 9-25-2007;113(3):409-420. View abstract.

Lopez-Lopez, A., Jimenez-Araujo, A., Garcia-Garcia, P., and Garrido-Fernandez, A. Multivariate analysis for the evaluation of fiber, sugars, and organic acids in commercial presentations of table olives. J Agric.Food Chem. 12-26-2007;55(26):10803-10811. View abstract.

MatthausB., OzcanM. Glucosinolate composition of young shoots and flower buds of capers (Capparis species) growing wild in Turkey. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2002;50(25):7323-7325.

Panico, A. M., Cardile, V., Garufi, F., Puglia, C., Bonina, F., and Ronsisvalle, G. Protective effect of Capparis spinosa on chondrocytes. Life Sci. 9-30-2005;77(20):2479-2488. View abstract.

Romeo V, Ziino M Giuffrida D Condurso C Verzera A. Flavour profile of capers (Capparis spinosa L.) from the Eolian Archipelago by HS-SPME/GC-MS. Food Chemistry 2007;3:1272-1278.

Tesoriere, L., Butera, D., Gentile, C., and Livrea, M. A. Bioactive components of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) from Sicily and antioxidant effects in a red meat simulated gastric digestion. J Agric.Food Chem. 10-17-2007;55(21):8465-8471. View abstract.

Yaniv, Z., Dafni, A., Friedman, J., and Palevitch, D. Plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Israel. J Ethnopharmacol 1987;19(2):145-151. View abstract.

Angelini G, Vena GA, Filotico R, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis from Capparis spinosa L. applied as wet compresses. Contact Dermatitis 1991;24:382-3. View abstract.

Eddouks M, Lemhardri A, Michel JB. Caraway and caper: potential anti-hyperglycaemic plants in diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;94:143-8. View abstract.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182

Gadgoli C, Mishra SH. Antihepatotoxic activity of p-methoxy benzoic acid from Capparis spinosa. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;66:187-92. View abstract.

Germano MP, De Pasquale R, D'Angelo V, et al. Evaluation of extracts and isolated fraction from Capparis spinosa L. buds as an antioxidant source. J Agric Food Chem 2002;50:1168-71. View abstract.

Mahasneh AM. Screening of some indigenous Qatari medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity. Phytother Res 2002;16:751-3. View abstract.

Sharaf M, el-Ansari MA, Saleh NA. Quercetin triglycoside from Capparis spinosa. Fitoterapia 2000;71:46-9. View abstract.

Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y, et al. Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytother Res 1993;7:285-9.