African Caper

Botanical Overview

African Caper (Capparis tomentosa) belongs to the Capparaceae family. While not among the most extensively documented medicinal plants, this species has recorded uses that warrant attention from researchers and practitioners. This species belongs to the Capparaceae family, a group of flowering plants.

General Description

Capparis tomentosa, the woolly caper bush or African caper, is a plant in the family Capparaceae and is native to Africa.

ⓘ Information
Description adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Family Context

The Capparaceae family is widely distributed. Notable medicinal members include:

Active Compounds

Phytochemical research has identified 1 compound in this species: stachydrine.

The identified compounds include the following categories:

  • Alkaloid: nitrogenous compounds with diverse pharmacological activities
ⓘ Information
Information on this page is compiled from Dr. Duke’s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases (USDA ARS), a public domain resource. Consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal preparation.
⚠ Caution
Traditional records: This plant has documented uses including Poison. Self-medication with herbs carries risks including allergic reactions, drug interactions, and toxicity. Only use under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

Complete Use Records

CategoryCultural Context
FatalityAfrica
WitchcraftEthiopia
PoisonSudan

Complete Chemical Inventory

CompoundFormulaMW
STACHYDRINEC₇H₁₃NO₂143.18 Da

Data from PubChem (NIH/NLM, public domain).


References & Further Reading

External Research Links

Data Sources