Uncaria tomentosa
Common name: Cat’s Claw
Family:
RubiaceaePart used: Inner bark of roots & stems
Constituents:
- Oxindole alkaloids: isopteropodine, pteropodine, mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, uncarine F, speciophylline, 3-isoajmalicine, 19-epi-3-isoajmalicine, uncarine B
- Plant sterols: beta sitosterol (80%), stigmasterol, campesterol
- Polyphenols: Catechin tannins, epicatechin, proanthrocyanidins & Flavonoids
- Quinovic acid glycosides
- Polyhydroxylated triterpenes
Medicinal actions:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Anti-neoplastic (Antileukemic)
- Antimicrobial (Anti-viral)
- Hypotensive
- Immune stimulant
- Vulnerary
Medicinal uses:
- Primary traditional uses in Peru are as an anti-inflammatory, contraceptive and anti-cancer remedy.
- An immune stimulant especially used in viral infections, including HIV.
- Useful in a variety of inflammatory diseases including gastric ulcers, diarrhea and GI tumors, gonorrhea, arthritis and rheumatism, acne, diabetes, diseases of the urinary tract and cancer.
Pharmacology:
- Oxindole alkaloids have demonstrated immune-stimulant activity (anti-leukemic) and stimulation of phagocytosis in vitro.
- Plant sterol are hypolipidemic & have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Quinovic acid glycosides & flavonoids have potent anti-inflammatory activity.
Pharmacy:
- Capsules: 350-500 mg QD-BID
- Decoction: 20-30 g boiled in 1 quart water for 3 hours until volume is reduced by 1/3, TID.
- Tincture: (1:5, 605) 1- 2 ml BID
Toxicity:
- Aside from mild nausea, it appears to have few side effects.
- There is one case report of acute renal failure in an adult with systemic lupus erythematosus who took cat’s claw.
Contraindications:
- Pregnancy, lactation or in children less than three years old
- Patients undergoing grafts and organ transplants, hemophiliacs, and use caution in SLE (lupus).
Interactions:
- Typically not recommended for those taking insulin, thymus extracts, vaccines, immune globulin or sera.
- Potential synergistic effects with anti-hypertensive medications.