title: Correlation between environmental factors, chemical composition, and antioxidative properties of caper species growing wild in Calabria (South Italy).
abstract: Twenty samples of two caper species were collected from various natural habitats of Calabria (South Italy). A sample program was designed in order to cover all taxa and morphotypes present in the studied area, trying to correlate ecological conditions, phytochemical content, and biological activities. These species were characterized through the detection, isolation, and capillary GC-GC/MS quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (phytosterols and vitamin E). The antioxidant activity of MeOH caper extracts was assayed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching tests. The chemical investigation showed a different composition according to the species and the populations. The best free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity was exerted by Capparis orientalis sample C4 (collected near Copanello village, granodiorite sea cliff) and Capparis sicula ssp. sicula sample C5 (collected near Tarsia village, clay soil). Sample C2 (Galatrella Valley, clay soil) showed the highest inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation with more efficacy than propyl gallate, the reference drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nutritional and Health Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS).
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Modesto
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.forename: Giancarlo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Statti
authors.forename: Dimitar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uzunov
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Solimene
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duez
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031484:Capparis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004777:Environment; D007558:Italy; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019787:Linoleic Acid