A new antioxidant compound from Capparis spinosa.

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Capparis spinosa L. is a plant with traditional medicinal uses.
• Oxidative stress is implicated in various diseases.
• Natural antioxidants are sought for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify antioxidant compounds from Capparis spinosa L. fruits.
• To evaluate the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of isolated compounds.

Main Methods:

• Activity-directed fractionation of Capparis spinosa L. fruit extracts.
• Column chromatography for purification of active compounds.
• Structure elucidation using 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.
• DPPH radical scavenging assay to determine antioxidant capacity (SC50 values).

Main Results:

• Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging activity.
• A new antioxidant, cappariside (4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3-carboxylic acid), was isolated.
• Seven known organic acids, previously unreported in the genus Capparis, were identified.
• Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, and 12 demonstrated strong DPPH radical scavenging capacity with low SC50 values.

Conclusions:

• Capparis spinosa L. fruits are a rich source of potent antioxidant compounds, including novel ones.
• The isolated compounds, particularly cappariside and specific organic acids, possess significant free radical scavenging properties.
• These findings support the potential use of Capparis spinosa L. extracts and its constituents in managing oxidative stress.