Abstracto

Phytochemistry and bioactivities of a harsh Terrain plant: Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew.

Hameed Hasan Abra, Mohammed Ali

Capparis decidua (Forsk.)Edgew. (Capparaceae) is a xerophytic plant, found chiefly in dry and arid regions of North-West India (Thar Desert), Pakistan and someAsian andAfrican countries. It is an important plant of traditional Indian SystemofMedicine (ISM) and ismainly used to treat cough, asthma, ulcers, boils, piles and as antidiabetic remedy, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and antiinflammatory.With advancement in the techniques of isolation, purification and analysis it became possible to identify the different classes of phytochemicals in this plant such as alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids and glucosides showing a wide array of biological activities. Here, an attempt has been made to provide a detailed systematic review of phytochemistry and bioactivities of the xerophyte Capparis decidua.