Background and Objective: Capparis spinosa L. belongs to the Capparaceae family for which biological roles such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects have been reported. Some active chemical groups including flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, tannins, and minerals have been detected in these plants [Sci Rew1] . This study aimed to extract the C. spinosa alcoholic extract from different parts of the plant, measure the content of phenols and flavonoids, and evaluate the effects of bud extracts on the viability and oxidative state of the islets of Langerhans isolated from rat pancreas.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental setup, the hydroalcoholic extracts of different parts of the plant were obtained based on the maceration method. Folin-Ciocalteu and rutin were used as the standard reagents to measure phenols and flavonoids. The islets of Langerhans were isolated from the pancreas of male rats (n=16) and incubated for 24 hours. Then, the islets were exposed to the plant extract for 24 hours after which cellular viability and reactive oxygen species were measured.
Results: The C. spinosa bud alcoholic extract markedly increased the survival of the islet cells. This effect was dose-dependent, and the greatest effects were observed at10³ and 10⁴ μgmL-1. At the mentioned concentrations, ROS production was reduced by 37% and 72% respectively comparing to the control.
Conclusion: The results indicated that C. spinose may have protective effects on the endocrine pancreas by increasing viability and decreasing ROS in the islets, and can thus be considered as a promising agent for prophylaxis and therapy in diabetes management.

Background and Objective: Increment in cancer prevalence and subsequent need for chemotherapy leads to distinct kidney-related diseases such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Cisplatin is a common chemotherapeutic agent that has been used in many cancers; however, it can damage renal cells. Capparis spinosa is an important therapeutic plant in Persian medicine that encompasses high amounts of bioactive antioxidant components. The current study aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective effects of Capparis spinosa seed hydroalcoholic extract (CSSE) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo through histopathological evaluation.
Materials and Methods: Forty Sprague Dawley rats weighing within the range of 230±20 gr were randomly divided into eight groups including sham, a single-dose cisplatin intraperitoneally (IP) injected group (7 mg/kg), toxic dose CSSE (200 mg/kg) group, and groups with cisplatin 7mg/kg IP and different doses of CSSE. Histopathological changes in the kidney tissues were quantified by the image-J program and analyzed by statistical methods.
Results: Cisplatin-induced glomerular and tubular injuries in the kidney tissue. A single-dose cisplatin decreased the glomerular area and Bowman's capsule area, increased Bowman's space, and induced tubular loss of brush borders, tubular dilatation, tubular cast formation and tubular necrosis. All of the changes were reversed by CSSE significantly.
Conclusion: Post-CSSE (50 and 100 mg/kg) treatment could protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo. More clinical studies are needed to confirm its protective effects on the prevention of kidney injury in chemotherapy receiving patients.

Background and Objective: Cisplatin as a chemotherapy drug causes liver damage by increasing inflammation. Hepatoprotective agents with antioxidant properties can be useful for preventing this complication. Capparis spinosa, as a natural antioxidant source, can help to eliminate these productions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two different doses of hydroalcoholic extract of Capparis seed on cisplatin-induced liver damages in rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty male rats were divided into five groups (the control group, Cis (cisplatin) group, 200 C/S (Capparis spinosa), Cis + 50 C/S, and Cis + 100 C/S). Biochemical and histopathological evaluations were made. At the end of the study, all animals were euthanized with a CO2 gradient. Statistical analyses were performed through Graph Pad Prism Statistics software 9.1.2. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Liver function tests, antioxidant and inflammatory markers and histopathological changes were evaluated. Significant changes in the pathology results were noticeable. Central vein, portal vein and bile duct diameter, thickness of the hepatic artery wall, and hepatic sinusoids were significantly increased in the Cis and 200 C/S-fed groups, compared to the controls, and also changes in favor of improvement were evident in the treatment groups, especially in the Cis + 100 C/S group compared to the Cis and 200 C/S groups.
Conclusion: Based on pathology results, treatment with C. spinosa seed extract may be helpful in preventing cisplatin hepatotoxicity.