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Phenolic Compounds and Vitamin Antioxidants of Caper (Capparis spinosa)

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Abstract

Capparis spinosa shows strong resistance to the adverse Mediterranean conditions and it has nutritional and medicinal value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contents of total phenolic compounds, rutin, tocopherols, carotenoids and vitamin C in leaves and flower buds of C. spinosa from different locations in Tunisia. Results showed the richness of caper with these compounds, especially phenolic compounds. Interestingly, it was also found the presence of both α- and γ-tocopherol in buds. Moreover, C. spinosa contained an appreciable level of vitamin C. The significant amounts of these antioxidants confirm the nutritional and medicinal value of caper.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the INRGREF for help in collecting the samples. We are very grateful to the Serveis Cientıfico-Tecnics (University of Barcelona) for technical assistance. This research was supported by the AECI (project no. A/016255/08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El-Manar, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia

    Nizar Tlili & Saida Triki

  2. Unité de Recherche, Gestion et Valorisation des Ressources Forestières, INRGREF, BP: 10, Ariana, 2080, Tunisia

    Nizar Tlili & Abdelhamid Khaldi

  3. Departament de Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergi Munné-Bosch

Authors
  1. Nizar Tlili
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  2. Abdelhamid Khaldi
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  3. Saida Triki
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  4. Sergi Munné-Bosch
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Correspondence to Nizar Tlili.

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Tlili, N., Khaldi, A., Triki, S. et al. Phenolic Compounds and Vitamin Antioxidants of Caper (Capparis spinosa). Plant Foods Hum Nutr 65, 260–265 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0180-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0180-6

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