Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Capparis spinosa L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Capparis spinosa L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Based on Ethnobotanical surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please visit pankajoudhia.com

For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt

92. Capparis spinosa, Linn. H.F.B.L, I. 173.

Syn. : — C. Murray ana, Graham,

Vern. : — Kabra, ber (H.) ; ulra Kanta (Kumaon) ; Kaur,

Kiari, bauri, ber, bandar, bassar, Kakri, Kander, taker, borar,

Keri, Kaba, barari (PbJ. ; Kalvari (Sind.) ; Kabar (Bom).

14

106 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

Habitat: — Hot Western Himalayan Valleys eastward to

Nepal, Sindh, the Punjab, and Western Peninsula in the Maha=

baleswar hills.

A diffuse, prostrate or trailing shrub. Buds long ; green

branches and young shoots pubescent or covered with soft

caducous white, green or yellowish totnentura. Stipulary thorns

yellow, hooked or nearly straight. Leaves orbicular or broadly

ovate, entire, rnucronate, 1-2 in. diam ; petioles i in. long.

Flowers 1-3 in. across, white, large showy, axillary solitary ;

pedicels 1-2 in. long, thickened in fruit ; filaments long, slender,

purple. Ovary on a slender, filiform gynophore. Fruit 1-3 in.

long, many-seeded, oblong, ribbed on a stout gynophore, bent

downwards when ripe, irregularly dehiscent, crimson inside ;

seeds numerous, uniform.

Parts used : — The root and root- bark. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: All parts are used as medicine. Even the insects attacking this species are used in Traditional Entomophagy and Entomotherapy.]

Uses :— The author of the Makkzan-ul-Advia considers the

root-bark to be hot and dry and to act as a detergent and as-

tringent, expelling cold humours ; it is therefore recommended

in palsy, dropsy, and gouty and rheumatic affections ; the juice

of the fresh plant is directed to be dropped into the ear to kill

worms, just as Gleome juice is used in India; all parts of the

plants are said to have a stimulating and astringent effect when

applied locally (Dymocki. In Kangra, the macerated roots are

applied to sores (Stewart). Ainslie notices its use as an external

application to malignant ulcers.

" The dried bark of the root is considered diuretic, and

was formerly employed in obstructions of the liver and spleen,

amenorrhoea, and chronic rheumatism." (United States Dis-

pensatory).

The flower buds contain caper-quercitrin, having the formula C 27 H 30

O l6 . On hydrolysis, this yields caper-quercetin C 13 F 12 7 , in addition to

glucose and isodulcitol. The amount of sugar formed on hydrolysis is as

follows :—

Sugar as isodulcite, Quercetin,

per cent. per cent.

Caper-quercitrin ... ... 56*73 ... 49*61

J. Ch. 8. LXVI, pt. I. (1894), p. 299,

[Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: In over 25000 Acacia based Herbal Formulations Capparis is added as tertiary ingredient. These Formulations are used for treatment of diseases of skin. In over 21000 Abrus based Formulations Capparis is added as secondary ingredient. These Formulations are used for treatment of diseases of male reproductive system. In over 30000 Cassia based Herbal Formulations Capparis is added as quinary ingredient. These Formulations are used for diseases of digestive system. In over 45000 Vitex based Formulations Capparis is added as septenary ingredient. These Formulations are used for diseases of joints. The Healers are well aware of excess, overdose and toxicity of Capparis and in order to manage it they use hundreds of Formulations. Please see Tables Capparis-1 to Capparis-300 for details.]

E-Documents on Capparis

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Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2014). Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Capparis spinosa L. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com