Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research

In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) Leaf from Hirmand City

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Extracts from various medicinal plants contain valuable bioactive and phytochemical compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, known for their potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. The caper plant (Capparis spinose L.), native to Hirmand City, is a rich source of bioactive compounds such as saccharides, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, and steroids. Novel extraction methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, offer significant advantages over traditional techniques like Soxhlet and maceration. Ultrasound facilitates efficient extraction, reduces processing time, and preserves heat-sensitive bioactive compounds. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound waves in extracting phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves.
Methodology: Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Box–Behnken Design (BBD) were employed to optimize two extraction parameters for phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves using ethanolic and aqueous solvents: extraction time (15, 30, 45 min) and ultrasound power (100, 200, 300 watts). Design Expert software suggested 13 treatments for extraction. Dried plant leaves were ground and dissolved in 70% ethanol (for alcoholic extraction) or distilled water (for aqueous extraction) at 1:4 w/v. Ultrasonic bath treatment with a constant frequency of 40 kHz was applied. Alcoholic extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator under vacuum, while aqueous extracts were processed in a vacuum oven at 40°C. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method for total phenolic content (TPC) and the DPPH free radical inhibition method, determining the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) index. Mean comparisons between the antioxidant test results of aqueous and alcoholic extracts were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test in a completely randomized design at α = 5% with SAS software version 9.1.
Results: Statistical analysis using the RSM model indicated that the quadratic model was the best fit for the measured parameters. The significant effects of time and ultrasound power on phenolic compound extraction and DPPH free radical inhibition ability in alcoholic extracts were determined with regression coefficients of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. For aqueous extracts, the regression coefficients were 0.98 and 0.99, respectively. The TPC of caper leaf extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethanol and distilled water solvents was 20.77±0.32 mg/g and 17.53±0.54 mg/g, respectively. The IC50 values of ethanol and distilled water extracts were 13.16±0.60 μg/ml and 20.42±0.81 μg/ml, respectively. The optimal extraction conditions were identified as an extraction time of 45 minutes and an ultrasound power of 300 watts. Under these conditions, the TPC values were 27.4 mg/g (ethanolic extract) and 23.8 mg/g (aqueous extract), while the IC50 values were 8.1 μg/ml and 10.8 μg/ml, respectively.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-assisted extraction is highly efficient for both alcoholic and aqueous extraction of phenolic and antioxidant compounds from caper leaves. A direct correlation was observed between TPC levels and DPPH free radical inhibition ability. Alcoholic extracts contained higher phenolic compound concentrations and exhibited higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extracts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
- Afzali, S.F., Sadeghi, H. and Taban, A., 2023. A comprehensive model for predicting the development of defense system of Capparis spinosa L.: a novel approach to assess the physiological indices. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 12413.
- Aliyazicioglu, R., Eyupoglu, O.E., Sahin, H., Yildiz, O. and Baltas, N., 2013. Phenolic components, antioxidant activity, and mineral analysis of Capparis spinosa L. African Journal of Biotechnology, 12(47): 6643-6649.
- Amiri, H., 2011. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Salvia multicaulis Vahl. Journal of Medicinal Plants, 8(1): 111-117.
- Bhoyar, M.S., Mishra, G.P., Naik, P.K. and Srivastava, R.B., 2011. Estimation of antioxidant activity and total phenolics among natural populations of Caper ('Capparis spinosa') leaves collected from cold arid desert of Trans-Himalayas. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 5(7): 912-919.
- Boudries, H., Nabet, N., Chougui, N., Souagui, S., Loupassaki, S., Madani, K. and Dimitrov, K., 2019. Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of antioxidant phenolics from Capparis spinosa flower buds and LC–MS analysis. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 13(3): 2241-2252.
- Chedraoui, S., Abi-Rizk, A., El-Beyrouthy, M., Chalak, L., Ouaini, N. and Rajjou, L., 2017. Capparis spinosa L. in a systematic review: A xerophilous species of multi values and promising potentialities for agrosystems under the threat of global warming. Frontiers in Plant science, 8, 1845.
- Dehghan Tanha, R., Mahdian, E., Amini Fard, M.H., Bayat, H. and Karajian, R., 2019. Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of total phenolic content from Capsicum annum fruits with response surface methodology. Journal of Innovation in Food Science and Technology, 11(1): 87-97.
- Ghorbani, M., Aboonajmi, M., Ghorbani, J.M. and Arabhosseini, A., 2017. Effect of ultrasound extraction conditions on yield and antioxidant properties of the fennel seed (foeniculum vulgare) extract. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 14(6): 63-73.
- Hayouni, E., Abedrabba, M., Bouix, M. and Hamdi, M., 2007. The effects of solvents and extraction method on the phenolic contents and biological activities in vitro of Tunisian Quercus coccifera L. and Juniperus phoenicea L. fruit extracts. Food Chemistry, 105(3): 1126-1134.
- Huseini, H.F., Hasani-Rnjbar, S., Nayebi, N., Heshmat, R., Sigaroodi, F.K., Ahvazi, M., Alaei, B.A. and Kianbakht, S., 2013. Capparis spinosa L. (Caper) fruit extract in treatment of type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complementary therapies in medicine, 21(5): 447-452.
- Khlebnikov, A.I., Schepetkin, I.A., Domina, N.G., Kirpotina, L.N. and Quinn, M.T., 2007. Improved quantitative structure–activity relationship models to predict antioxidant activity of flavonoids in chemical, enzymatic, and cellular systems. Bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, 15(4): 1749-1770.
- Li, J.W., Ding, S.D. and Ding, X.L., 2007. Optimization of the ultrasonically assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Zizyphus jujuba cv. jinsixiaozao. Journal of food engineering, 80(1): 176-183.
- Luque-Garcıa, J. and De Castro, M.L., 2003. Ultrasound: a powerful tool for leaching. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 22(1): 41-47.
- Mahboubi, M. and Mahboubi, A., 2014. Antimicrobial activity of Capparis spinosa as its usages in traditional medicine. Herba Polonica, 60(1): 39-48.
- Mazarei, F., Jooyandeh, H., Noshad, M. and Hojjati, M., 2017. Polysaccharide of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) Leaf: Extraction optimization, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity. International journal of biological macromolecules, 95: 231-224.
- Mishra, B.B. and Tiwari, V.K., 2011. Natural products: An evolving role in future drug discovery. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 46(10): 4769-4807.
- Moghaddasian, B., Alaghemand, A. and Eradatmand Asli, D., 2013. Diurnal change in routine content in Capparis spinosa growing wild in Tafresh/Iran. European J Experimental Biology, 3(3): 30-34.
- Moghaddasian, B., Eradatmand, A. and Alaghemand, A., 2012. Quantitative analysis of quercetin in different parts of Capparis spinosa by HPLC. Annals of Biological Research, 3(12): 5775-5778.
- Mollica, A., 2017. Anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties of Capparis spinosa L.: In vivo and in vitro evaluation of its nutraceutical potential. Journal of functional foods, 35: 32-42.
- Moufid, A., Farid, O. and Eddouks, M., 2015. Pharmacological Properties of Capparis spinosa Linn. Int J Diabetol Vasc Dis Res, 3(5): 99-104.
- Oroian, M., Ursachi, F. and Dranca, F., 2020. Influence of ultrasonic amplitude, temperature, time and solvent concentration on bioactive compounds extraction from propolis. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 64: 105021.
- Rashedi, H., Amiri, H. and Gharezi, A., 2015. Assessment of phytochemical and antioxidant properties of the Capparis spinosa L. in Khuzestan province. Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Science, 18(6): 11-17.
- Razavi, R. and Kenari, R.E., (2021). Antioxidant evaluation of Fumaria parviflora L. extract loaded nanocapsules obtained by green extraction methods in oxidative stability of sunflower oil. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 15(3), 2448-2457.
- Rodrigues, S., Pinto, G.A. and Fernandes, F.A., 2008. Optimization of ultrasound extraction of phenolic compounds from coconut (Cocos nucifera) shell powder by response surface methodology. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 15(1): 95-100.
- Rouhani, H., 2016. Determination some the ecological, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of caper (Capparis spinosa) in habitat Gonabad. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Torbat-e-Heydarieh.
- Safarzaei, A., Esmaeilzadeh Kenari, R. and Farahmandfar, R., 2023. Optimization of aqueous extraction conditions of phenolic and antioxidant compounds of Caper (Capparis spinosa) leaves and roots using response surface methodology. Journal of Food Science and Technology (Iran), 138(20): 26-40.
- Safarzaei, A., Sarhadi, H. and Dashipour, A.R., 2022. Optimization of antimicrobial and antioxidant aextraction of caper (Capparis spinosa) leaves and roots assisted by ultrasonic waves. Journal of Innovation in Food Science and Technology, 13(4): 31-50.
- Safarzaei, A., Sarhadi, H., Khodaparast, M.H.H., Shahdadi, F. and Dashipour, A.R., 2020. Optimization of aqueous and alcoholic extraction of phenolic and antioxidant compounds from Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) Roots assisted by ultrasound waves. Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 22(4): e100747.
- Sharififar, F., Moshafi, M.H., Mansouri, S.H., Khodashenas, M. and Khoshnoodi, M., 2007. In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract of endemic Zataria multiflora Boiss. Food Control, 18(7): 800-805.
- Smaoui, S., Ben Hlima, H., Fourati, M., Elhadef, K., Ennouri, K. and Mellouli, L., 2020. Multiobjective optimization of Phoenix dactylifera L. seeds extraction: mixture design methodology for phytochemical contents and antibacterial activity. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 44(10): e14822.
- Sohrabi, F. and Kavoosi, G.R., 2018. Optimization of ultrasound extraction of phenolic compounds from coconut (Cocos nucifera) shell powder by response surface methodology. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 15(1): 95-100.
- Tlili, N., Nasri, N., Saadaoui, E., Khaldi, A. and Triki, S., 2009. Carotenoid and tocopherol composition of leaves, buds, and flowers of Capparis spinosa grown wild in Tunisia. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 57(12): 5381-5385.
- Tsiaka, T., Lantzouraki, D.Z., Polychronaki, G., Sotiroudis, G., Kritsi, E., Sinanoglou, V.J., Kalogianni, D.P. and Zoumpoulakis, P., 2023. Optimization of ultrasound-and microwave-assisted extraction for the determination of phenolic compounds in peach byproducts using experimental design and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Molecules, 28(2): 518.
- Wang, J., Sun, B., Cao, Y., Tian, Y. and Li, X., 2008. Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from wheat bran. Food Chemistry, 106(2):804-810.
- Wu, Y., Cui, S.W., Tang, J. and Gu, X., 2007. Optimization of extraction process of crude polysaccharides from boat-fruited sterculia seeds by response surface methodology. Food chemistry, 105(4): 1599-1605.‏
- Yang, T., Liu, Y., Wang, C. and Wang, Z., 2008. Advances on investigation of chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and clinical applications of Capparis spinosa. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi= Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi= China journal of Chinese materia medica, 33(21): 2453-2458.
- Zeggwagh, N., Michel, J. and Eddouks, M., 2007. Cardiovascular effect of Capparis spinosa aqueous extract. part VI: in vitro vasorelaxant Effect. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2(3): 135-139.
- Zhou, H., Jian, R., Kang, J., Huang, X., Li, Y., Zhuang, C., Yang, F., Zhang, L., Fan, X., Wu, T. and Wu, X., 2010. Anti-inflammatory effects of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) fruit aqueous extract and the isolation of main phytochemicals. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 58(24): 12717-12721.
- Zia-Ul-Haq, M., Ćavar, S., Qayum, M., Imran, I. and Feo, V.d., 2011. Compositional studies: antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. International journal of molecular sciences, 12(12): 8846-8861.
Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research
Volume 41, Issue 1 - Serial Number 123
April 2025
Pages 112-129
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics