ABSTRACT
The Capparis genus represents a great possibility and potential for treating rheumatological disorders. This is reflected in the treasure trove of mostly Chinese patents cited in Table 15.1 that deal with preparations of C. spinosa fruit for both internal and external remedies for arthritis and related disorders subsumed under the general field of rheumatology. The chemical mechanisms responsible for the antiarthritic or chondroprotective effect are a subject of active research. Isothiocyanates have been proposed as a likely possibility (Figure 15.1), while other groups have considered alkaloids, sterols, and polyphenols to be responsible. It is likely the mechanism relates to the complex medicinal chemistry of Capparis and is a collection of complex effects that include all of these compounds.
