Anti-inflammatory and Immuno-modulatory Effects of Capparis spinosa Flower Bud Extract

Aims: Capparis spinosa L. is a plant widely used in traditional medicine for its different purpose including the anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant and to define its possible mechanism of action by verifying its effect on the production of some inflammatory mediators.

Methodology: The anti-inflammatory activity of Capparis spinosa bud methanolic extract was evaluated in vivo, using paw edema and air pouch inflammation models. In vitro, the ability of the extract to modulate the production of some pro and anti-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-10 released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by concanavalin A was evaluated. Moreover, the effect of the extract on LTB4 and superoxide anion released from neutrophils was tested.

Results: Results showed that the oral administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg of Capparis spinosa methanolic extract reduced significantly carrageenan-induced paw edema. Above 2 h, both doses of the extract exerted a significant (P < 0.001) anti-edematous effect, with 52%-69%. In addition, this extract inhibited the neutrophil migration into the air pouch. The inhibition exerted by 1 mg/pouch of the extract (48.92%) was better than that exerted by indomethacin, used as reference. On the other hand, the extract inhibited significantly the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, LTB4 and superoxide anion generation. At 100 µg/mL, the inhibition values were 21.28%, 38.04%, 20.84% and 71.16%, respectively. In contrast, the extract did not show any significant effect on the release of IL-8 and IL-10.

Conclusion: Capparis spinosa bud extract inhibited the inflammatory process by modulating the pro-inflammatory mediator release. Thus this extract can offer a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.