Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils

Abstract Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) is a naturally grown species in different soils. To gain insight into the impact of various soil conditions on nutritional and phytochemical properties, aerial parts of caper bush (C. spinosa) were collected from gypsum and non-gypsum soils in southern Iran. Co...

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Main Authors: Elham Yousefi, Mehdi Abedi, Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh, Diego A. Moreno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97298-4
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author Elham Yousefi
Mehdi Abedi
Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh
Diego A. Moreno
author_facet Elham Yousefi
Mehdi Abedi
Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh
Diego A. Moreno
author_sort Elham Yousefi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) is a naturally grown species in different soils. To gain insight into the impact of various soil conditions on nutritional and phytochemical properties, aerial parts of caper bush (C. spinosa) were collected from gypsum and non-gypsum soils in southern Iran. Colorimetric analyses of antioxidant compounds (total phenolics and flavonoids) and antioxidant capacity tests (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS) were carried out, and intact aliphatic and indolic glucosinolates (predominant aliphatic glucocapparin) were analyzed by HPLC-DAD method. Based on the findings, plant parts and sites significantly impacted most parameters. The highest TPC values were observed in the petals in gypsum soil and the lowest in the non-gypsum soil seeds by 2317.78 and 635.06 mg/kg FW, respectively. Likewise, the highest TFC was recorded in the non-gypsum soil leaves and the lowest in the non-gypsum soil seeds by 401.06 and 55.61 Qu mg/kg FW, respectively. The highest and lowest FRAP values were observed in the leaves in gypsum (0.94) and the pistils in gypsum soil (0.80), respectively. Regarding ABTS values, the flags in the non-gypsum and gypsum sites showed the highest and lowest values of 89.51 and 78.40%, respectively. High DPPH values were recorded for most parts. The highest amount of glucocapparin was found in the pistils in gypsum, and the lowest was in the petals in gypsum soil by 35.81 and 21.65 µmol/g DW, respectively. The gypsum sites showed higher values for most of the studied parameters. The PCA results showed that pistils were associated with glucocapparin, petals with DPPH, and the leaves and sepals with TPC, FRAP, ABTS, and TFC. The majority of studied factors correlated well with TPC. Our results supported the potential of caper bush (C. spinosa) as a underexploited food rich in bioactivephytochemicals adapted to harsh soil conditions, with the potential for implementation in agroecosystems with adverse environmental conditions with the potential of better adaptation for securing the access to plant-derived foods.
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spelling doaj-art-3f0c5d1769c0401aa7f463f22b5b2c422025-08-20T03:10:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-97298-4Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soilsElham Yousefi0Mehdi Abedi1Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh2Diego A. Moreno3Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares UniversityDepartment of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares UniversityDepartment of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of MazandaranLaboratorio de Fitoquímica y Alimentos Saludables (LabFAS), CSICAbstract Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) is a naturally grown species in different soils. To gain insight into the impact of various soil conditions on nutritional and phytochemical properties, aerial parts of caper bush (C. spinosa) were collected from gypsum and non-gypsum soils in southern Iran. Colorimetric analyses of antioxidant compounds (total phenolics and flavonoids) and antioxidant capacity tests (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS) were carried out, and intact aliphatic and indolic glucosinolates (predominant aliphatic glucocapparin) were analyzed by HPLC-DAD method. Based on the findings, plant parts and sites significantly impacted most parameters. The highest TPC values were observed in the petals in gypsum soil and the lowest in the non-gypsum soil seeds by 2317.78 and 635.06 mg/kg FW, respectively. Likewise, the highest TFC was recorded in the non-gypsum soil leaves and the lowest in the non-gypsum soil seeds by 401.06 and 55.61 Qu mg/kg FW, respectively. The highest and lowest FRAP values were observed in the leaves in gypsum (0.94) and the pistils in gypsum soil (0.80), respectively. Regarding ABTS values, the flags in the non-gypsum and gypsum sites showed the highest and lowest values of 89.51 and 78.40%, respectively. High DPPH values were recorded for most parts. The highest amount of glucocapparin was found in the pistils in gypsum, and the lowest was in the petals in gypsum soil by 35.81 and 21.65 µmol/g DW, respectively. The gypsum sites showed higher values for most of the studied parameters. The PCA results showed that pistils were associated with glucocapparin, petals with DPPH, and the leaves and sepals with TPC, FRAP, ABTS, and TFC. The majority of studied factors correlated well with TPC. Our results supported the potential of caper bush (C. spinosa) as a underexploited food rich in bioactivephytochemicals adapted to harsh soil conditions, with the potential for implementation in agroecosystems with adverse environmental conditions with the potential of better adaptation for securing the access to plant-derived foods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97298-4Gypsum soilCaper BushAntioxidant capacityReducing capacityGlucosinolates
spellingShingle Elham Yousefi
Mehdi Abedi
Tahereh A. Aghajanzadeh
Diego A. Moreno
Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
Scientific Reports
Gypsum soil
Caper Bush
Antioxidant capacity
Reducing capacity
Glucosinolates
title Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
title_full Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
title_fullStr Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
title_full_unstemmed Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
title_short Caper bush (Capparis spinosa L.) bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
title_sort caper bush capparis spinosa l bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity as affected by adaptation to harsh soils
topic Gypsum soil
Caper Bush
Antioxidant capacity
Reducing capacity
Glucosinolates
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97298-4
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