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Review of food and medicinal uses ofCapparis L. SubgenusCapparis (capparidaceae)

Revisión de los Usos Alimentarios y Medicinales de Capparis Subgénero Capparis (Capparidaceae)

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Abstract

Capers of commerce are immature flower buds which have been pickled either in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits and young shoots with small leaves may also be pickled for use as a condiment. The use of capers can be traced to the prehistory. Although Capparis spinosa from the western Mediterranean is the most widely used species, the subgenus comprises 23 species and subspecies occupying large territories from the Atlantic coasts to the Pacific in the Old World. We have recorded medicinal and food uses for 19 species.

Résumé

Las alcaparras del comercio son botones florales encurtidos en vinagre o preservados en sal gruesa. Los frutos inmaduros y los brotes tiernos provistos de hojitas también se utilizan encurtidos como condimento. El uso de las alcaparras se remonta hasta la prehistoria. Aunque la especie Capparis spinosa, que habita la region mediterrdnea occidental es la mas utilizada, el subgenero comprende 23 especies y subespecies que se extienden desde las costas Atlánticas hasta el Pacífico en Africa, Asia, Europa y Oceanía. Se han registrado usos para 19 especies y subespecies, que son de interés alimentario y medicinal.

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  1. Department of Plant Biology, University of Murcia, 30100, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain

    Diego Rivera, Cristina Inocencio & Francisco Alcaraz

  2. Department of Applied Biology, EPSO, University Miguel Hernández, 03312, Orihuela, Alicante, Spain

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  1. Diego Rivera
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Rivera, D., Inocencio, C., Obon, C. et al. Review of food and medicinal uses ofCapparis L. SubgenusCapparis (capparidaceae). Econ Bot 57, 515–534 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2003)057[0515:ROFAMU]2.0.CO;2

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