Capparis himalayensis
Capparis himalayensis, commonly known as the Himalayan Caper, is a resilient medicinal shrub native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. Renowned in traditional medicine, its various parts possess potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, offering significant therapeutic potential for treating diverse ailments and supporting overall wellness.
- Scientific name: Capparis himalayensis
- Family: Capparaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Brassicales. Finally, it is a member of the family Capparaceae, falling under the genus Capparis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Capparaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Capparis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Capparis himalayensis, is referred to by several common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is commonly called 爪瓣山柑, a name used across various regional standards including 爪瓣山柑 in Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), and the Mainland China standard (zh-cn). Additionally, it is also known by the descriptive name 老鼠瓜 in Chinese (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 爪瓣山柑 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 爪瓣山柑 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 爪瓣山柑 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 爪瓣山柑 | Wikidata |
| zh | 老鼠瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh | 狼西瓜 | Wikidata |
| zh | 爪钾山柑 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found across the vast stretches of the Indian Subcontinent. Within this region, it is specifically documented to grow in the mountainous terrain of Nepal. Its distribution also extends into the diverse landscapes of Pakistan. Furthermore, the species is commonly located throughout the West Himalaya region. These specific locations highlight its preference for the high-altitude environments of South Asia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Capparis himalayensis, is a medicinal species where the whole plant is often utilized for its therapeutic properties. Various parts of the entire organism, including the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers, contribute to its traditional healing applications in Himalayan folk medicine. Because the medicinal efficacy is distributed throughout the whole plant, practitioners may use different preparations depending on the specific ailment being addressed.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Capparis himalayensis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6-methoxyindoline-2,3-dione, Capparin A, Capparin B, apigenin, kaempferol.
- Total chemicals
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 9
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 6-methoxyindoline-2,3-dione | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capparin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capparin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| apigenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| luteolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oroxylin A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wogonin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |