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Karira

Capparis decidua

Karira (Capparis decidua) is a plant drug, also called Karirah, Kaira and Karila. Glucosinolate-derived isothiocyanates are activated by myrosinase enzyme during mastication/processing. Gentle drying preserves myrosinase activity. Lipid-based formulations enhance absorption of steroidal sapogenins. Isothiocyanate content degrades at higher temperatures; refrigerated storage extends potency.

Key facts
Botanical nameCapparis decidua
FamilyCapparaceae · other entries in this family
OrderBrassicales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 7782352 · Wikidata Q3242136 · NCBI Taxonomy 622458
Names in other languages
Sanskritकरीरः (karīraḥ)
Hindiकैर (kaira), करील (karīla), टींट (ṭīṃṭa)
Tamilசெங்கம்

Sources: Names of Plants in India:: Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew. (groups.google.com/g/indiantreepix/c/JYIwKvz8KUo), Hindi list reads "कैर kair, कैरिया kairiya, करीर karir, करील karil, करीं kareen, पीचू pichu, टींट teent, टेंटी tenti".; Names of Plants in India:: Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew., Sanskrit list "दीर्घपत्त्रक dirghapattraka, ग्रन्थिक granthika, ग्रन्थिल granthila, गूढपत्त्र gudhapattra, करीर karira, क्रकर krakara, कुरर kurara, मरुभूरुह marubhuruha, निष्पत्त्रिका nishpattrika, ताम्रपत्त्रक tamrapattraka, तीक्ष्णकण्टक tikshnakantaka, वेणुकर्कर venukarkara"; Names of Plants in India:: Capparis decidua, Hindi list "कैर kair, कैरिया kairiya, करीर karir, करील karil, करीं kareen, पीचू pichu, टींट teent, टेंटी tenti"; Names of Plants in India:: Capparis decidua, Hindi list includes "टींट teent, टेंटी tenti"; Names of Plants in India:: Capparis decidua, Tamil list "சிரக்கோழி cira-k-koli, குழலாதொண்டை kulal-atontai, கெந்திகம் kentikam, மருபூருகம் maru-purukam, செங்கம் senkam". How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 1997 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.

  • 2Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 10Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishKarira

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Katu, TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, RukshaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Kwatha concentrate, Swarasa (fresh juice)

Standard Dosage: 3-5 g powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction twice daily; 10-20 mL fresh juice

Optimal Timing: Before meals for digestive and hepatic applications; with meals to reduce GI irritation from isothiocyanates

Storage: Store in airtight containers at 15-25°C, protected from moisture. Isothiocyanate content degrades at higher temperatures; refrigerated storage extends potency.

Marker Compounds: Spermidine, Stachydrine, Cappariloside A, Cappariloside B, Rutin, Quercetin, Isothiocyanates, Beta-sitosterol

Synergistic Combinations

  • Punarnava traditionally paired to support liver function (hepatoprotective use) and in formulations for oedema
  • Gokshura, traditionally paired to support urinary function
  • Varuna, traditionally paired in formulations for urinary calculi
  • Guduchi for liver protection

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews2

  1. Jadoon S, Karim S, Bin Asad MH and others. 2015. Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell LongetivityOxidative medicine and cellular longevity. PMID 26448818 · doi:10.1155/2015/709628
  2. Yadav P, Sarkar S, Bhatnagar D. 1997. Action of capparis decidua against alloxan-induced oxidative stress and diabetes in rat tissuesPharmacological research. PMID 9367667 · doi:10.1006/phrs.1997.0222

Laboratory and animal studies10

  1. Kafeel A, Hussain R, Khalofah A and others. 2026. Integrated eco-physiological and anatomical responses of Capparis decidua to salinity and water deficit stressScientific reports. PMID 42366239 · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-60156-y
  2. Mujtaba G, Hai A, Ul Hassan Shah M and others. 2024. Potential of Capparis decidua plant and eggshell composite adsorbent for effective removal of anionic dyes from aqueous mediumEnvironmental research. PMID 38246301 · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.118279
  3. Farhan Rasheed HM, Jabeen Q. 2022. Pharmacological Role of Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew in Preventing Cyclophosphamide-induced Myelosuppression and Modulating Innate and Adaptive Immune ResponseDose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society. PMID 36081616 · doi:10.1177/15593258221123672
  4. Ali MZ, Mehmood MH, Saleem M and others. 2021. Pharmacological evaluation of Euphorbia hirta, Fagonia indica and Capparis decidua in hypertension through in-vivo and in vitro-assaysHeliyon. PMID 34712851 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08094
  5. Anjum S, Asif M, Zia K and others. 2020. Biological and phytochemical studies on Capparis decidua (Forssk) Edgew from Cholistan desertNatural product research. PMID 30587037 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2018.1531403
  6. Forster Y, Ghaffar A, Bienz S. 2016. A new view on the codonocarpine type alkaloids of Capparis deciduaPhytochemistry. PMID 27184609 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.03.019
  7. Kumar S, Sharma R, Kumar V and others. 2013. Combining molecular-marker and chemical analysis of Capparis decidua (Capparaceae) in the Thar Desert of Western Rajasthan (india)Revista de biologia tropical. PMID 23894984 · doi:10.15517/rbt.v61i1.11130
  8. Zia-Ul-Haq M, Cavar S, Qayum M and others. 2011. Compositional studies: antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) EdgewInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 22272107 · doi:10.3390/ijms12128846
  9. Goyal M, Nagori BP, Sasmal D. 2009. Sedative and anticonvulsant effects of an alcoholic extract of Capparis deciduaJournal of natural medicines. PMID 19452247 · doi:10.1007/s11418-009-0339-3
  10. Purohit A, Vyas KB. 2005. Hypolipidaemic efficacy of Capparis decidua fruit and shoot extracts in cholesterol fed rabbitsIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 16235718

Reference lists that include it

Quercetin

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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