Cat's Claw
Major Therapeutic Activity of Cat's Claw
No. 10 June 2010
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Key Points at a Glance
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Cat's Claw
two species contain two types of oxindole alkaloids (POAs
and TOAs)
pharmacological studies suggest action of POAs is preferred two chemotypes of Uncaria tomentosa occur: one is high in POAs and very low in TOAs the major indigenous group of the Peruvian central rainforest prefers this chemotype |
Traditional Use
Cat’s Claw (Uña de Gato) is one of the most important plant medicines of the Asháninka Indians, a major indigenous people of the Peruvian central rainforest.1 Two species are known under this common name: Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. The bark is used in traditional Peruvian medicine by many indigenous groups to treat degenerative processes (including cancer), inflammatory conditions (including arthritis), gastric ulcers, intestinal colic, diarrhoea, venereal diseases, snake bite, diabetes, asthma, uterine haemorrhage, internal wounds and as a postpartum tonic.2-6 A tincture of the root or bark is administered together with bark decoction for convalescence or debility. It is regarded as a tonic or restorative. High doses of root decoction are administered as a contraceptive.2
Other traditional uses include:
Cat’s Claw (Uña de Gato) is one of the most important plant medicines of the Asháninka Indians, a major indigenous people of the Peruvian central rainforest.1 Two species are known under this common name: Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. The bark is used in traditional Peruvian medicine by many indigenous groups to treat degenerative processes (including cancer), inflammatory conditions (including arthritis), gastric ulcers, intestinal colic, diarrhoea, venereal diseases, snake bite, diabetes, asthma, uterine haemorrhage, internal wounds and as a postpartum tonic.2-6 A tincture of the root or bark is administered together with bark decoction for convalescence or debility. It is regarded as a tonic or restorative. High doses of root decoction are administered as a contraceptive.2
Other traditional uses include:
-
root and bark of U. tomentosa for liver, kidney and
rheumatic pain, and bark for irregular menses
(Bolivian Amazon);7
-
bark of U. tomentosa for cancer, internal
inflammation, kidney problems (southern Ecuador).8
Within the medicinal system of the Asháninka Indians a human is believed to consist of a physical being and a spiritual being who communicate with each other by means of a regulating element. Medical disorders can arise from these components and are classified into physical diseases, hidden psychological complaints and deterioration of the regulation (between physical and spiritual). The priests (the highest level of healers) protect harmony. The Asháninka expression of ‘I am healthy’
literally means ‘I carry harmony’. Cat’s Claw is one of the
'powerful plants' exclusively utilised by the priests to
eliminate disturbance in the communication between body
and spirit.1
Nicole Maxwell, an ethnobotanist searching in the Amazon for medicinal plants during the late 1950s described the local indigenous people using U. tomentosa to successfully treat tumours. She herself used it to recover from a serious infection. To her amazement after taking it for several months to prevent recurrence of infection, some dark coloured hairs began to appear amongst her normally full head of white hair!9
The export of Cat's Claw bark escalated in 1994 and the Peruvian government put regulations in place in 1995 to help ensure the plants' sustainability. From early 1999 the export of Cat's Claw became prohibited, except when obtained from managed natural stock or plantations. Although not technically prohibited, permits for the harvesting of the root are not usually issued.10,11 The use of the stem bark is recommended in preference to the root bark.
Constituents
There are two chemotypes of Uncaria tomentosa which are likely to have separate pharmacological properties. One chemotype contains the immune-enhancing pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POAs) with only traces of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOAs), the other contains both POAs and TOAs. TOAs can have an immune-suppressing activity.1,12 It is important to use the chemotype that is high in POAs and very low in TOAs.
Nicole Maxwell, an ethnobotanist searching in the Amazon for medicinal plants during the late 1950s described the local indigenous people using U. tomentosa to successfully treat tumours. She herself used it to recover from a serious infection. To her amazement after taking it for several months to prevent recurrence of infection, some dark coloured hairs began to appear amongst her normally full head of white hair!9
The export of Cat's Claw bark escalated in 1994 and the Peruvian government put regulations in place in 1995 to help ensure the plants' sustainability. From early 1999 the export of Cat's Claw became prohibited, except when obtained from managed natural stock or plantations. Although not technically prohibited, permits for the harvesting of the root are not usually issued.10,11 The use of the stem bark is recommended in preference to the root bark.
Constituents
There are two chemotypes of Uncaria tomentosa which are likely to have separate pharmacological properties. One chemotype contains the immune-enhancing pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POAs) with only traces of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOAs), the other contains both POAs and TOAs. TOAs can have an immune-suppressing activity.1,12 It is important to use the chemotype that is high in POAs and very low in TOAs.
Not for Public Distribution. For Education of Health Care Professionals Only. 1
Interestingly, the Asháninka priests are said to be able to
identify the correct chemotype – they harvest only the
chemotype containing mostly POAs. This is despite the fact
that the two chemotypes are botanically identical (i.e. the
plants look identical).1
Uncaria guianensis bark contains predominantly TOAs.13
Pharmacological Activity
Cat's Claw bark extract protected cells against oxidative stress, and reduced inflammation in several in vivo models (oral route). The mechanism of action may involve suppression of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.14,15
U. tomentosa bark increased granulocyte-macrophage progenitors in bone marrow in vivo (oral route), which may lead to an efficient and sustained response of phagocytes.16 In another in vivo model it stimulated the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes.17 Several POAs isolated from U. tomentosa root administered intraperitoneally demonstrated pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis in the in vivo carbon clearance test.18 The in vivo antitumour effect of
U. tomentosa bark may be at least partially due to its antioxidant activity.19 Suppression of NF-kappaB may also contribute to its antiproliferative effect.20
Clinical Studies
A range of Cat's Claw preparations have been used in mostly uncontrolled and unpublished studies. Research using other species (U. guianensis) and extracts devoid of oxindole alkaloids are not discussed here.
Immune Deficiency, Cancer
Thirteen patients with HIV infection who refused conventional treatment took an aqueous hydrochloric acid extract of U. tomentosa root (providing 0.24 mg/day of POAs) for 2.2 to 5.0 months. Although the total white blood cell count remained unchanged within the group, it was found that low values were raised and high values were lowered. The lymphocyte count increased significantly to an average of around 35%. However, no significant changes in T4/T8 cell ratios were observed.1
Standardised U. tomentosa root extract was utilised in a long-term, open study involving 44 AIDS patients.21 Some patients were also taking AZT (azidothymidine). The patients who had CD4 lymphocyte counts of
200-500 x 106/L had the best results.
Uncaria guianensis bark contains predominantly TOAs.13
Pharmacological Activity
Cat's Claw bark extract protected cells against oxidative stress, and reduced inflammation in several in vivo models (oral route). The mechanism of action may involve suppression of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.14,15
U. tomentosa bark increased granulocyte-macrophage progenitors in bone marrow in vivo (oral route), which may lead to an efficient and sustained response of phagocytes.16 In another in vivo model it stimulated the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes.17 Several POAs isolated from U. tomentosa root administered intraperitoneally demonstrated pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis in the in vivo carbon clearance test.18 The in vivo antitumour effect of
U. tomentosa bark may be at least partially due to its antioxidant activity.19 Suppression of NF-kappaB may also contribute to its antiproliferative effect.20
Clinical Studies
A range of Cat's Claw preparations have been used in mostly uncontrolled and unpublished studies. Research using other species (U. guianensis) and extracts devoid of oxindole alkaloids are not discussed here.
Immune Deficiency, Cancer
Thirteen patients with HIV infection who refused conventional treatment took an aqueous hydrochloric acid extract of U. tomentosa root (providing 0.24 mg/day of POAs) for 2.2 to 5.0 months. Although the total white blood cell count remained unchanged within the group, it was found that low values were raised and high values were lowered. The lymphocyte count increased significantly to an average of around 35%. However, no significant changes in T4/T8 cell ratios were observed.1
Standardised U. tomentosa root extract was utilised in a long-term, open study involving 44 AIDS patients.21 Some patients were also taking AZT (azidothymidine). The patients who had CD4 lymphocyte counts of
200-500 x 106/L had the best results.
-
CD4 cells increased significantly for the first year of
therapy and the increase persisted for the first 3 years.
-
B-lymphocyte counts increased, and p24 antigen
levels decreased.
-
Those patients taking both AZT and the extract showed
the same improvement in their CD4 cell counts by the
end of the first six months as those on the extract
alone.
Patients became free of symptoms such as recurrent
herpes simplex and vaginal or oral fungal infections.
The progression of cancer was slowed in patients receiving standardised Cat's Claw root bark extract (long-term, uncontrolled trial). Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy were reduced and patients had increased vitality.22 A patient with Barrett's adenocarcinoma (of the oesophagus) has experienced an unusually long survival time after surgery and chemotherapy. He had been drinking U. tomentosa tea for several years (soon after diagnosis).23
U. tomentosa bark decoction taken by a smoker for 15 days significantly reduced the mutagenicity that was experimentally-induced in his urine samples. The effect was not observed in a nonsmoker also received the decoction.24
Inflammation
In a small, preliminary study with rheumatoid arthritis patients, 24 weeks of treatment with an extract of the POA-chemotype of Cat's Claw resulted in a significant reduction in the number of painful joints compared to placebo (53.2% vs 24.1%). This phase of the trial was of randomised, double-blind design. Patients continued their antirheumatic medication (sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine). In the second phase, all patients received Cat's Claw extract for 28 weeks, and the number of painful and swollen joints significantly dropped, compared to the values after the first phase. The aqueous hydrochloric acid extract of U. tomentosa root provided 0.88 mg/day of POAs and contained no TOAs.25
An earlier pilot trial in Peru found that treatment with Cat's Claw powder for 6 months significantly decreased morning stiffness, pain intensity and the number of painful and swollen joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The placebo group did not experience these benefits.26
In a small trial conducted in Peru, patients with acute infections of the oral cavity were treated with ampicillin (antibiotic) and U. tomentosa or ampicillin and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam. After 5 days, treatment with the antibiotic and Cat's Claw was effective in 90% of patients, compared with 70% in the other group. Treatment was effective if the symptoms of inflammation (swelling, redness, heat, pain) had reduced to zero.27
Other Conditions
Some benefit has been found for Cat’s Claw extract in the treatment of allergies, bronchitis, gastritis and duodenal ulcer (small, pilot studies).22
alone.
Patients became free of symptoms such as recurrent
herpes simplex and vaginal or oral fungal infections.
The progression of cancer was slowed in patients receiving standardised Cat's Claw root bark extract (long-term, uncontrolled trial). Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy were reduced and patients had increased vitality.22 A patient with Barrett's adenocarcinoma (of the oesophagus) has experienced an unusually long survival time after surgery and chemotherapy. He had been drinking U. tomentosa tea for several years (soon after diagnosis).23
U. tomentosa bark decoction taken by a smoker for 15 days significantly reduced the mutagenicity that was experimentally-induced in his urine samples. The effect was not observed in a nonsmoker also received the decoction.24
Inflammation
In a small, preliminary study with rheumatoid arthritis patients, 24 weeks of treatment with an extract of the POA-chemotype of Cat's Claw resulted in a significant reduction in the number of painful joints compared to placebo (53.2% vs 24.1%). This phase of the trial was of randomised, double-blind design. Patients continued their antirheumatic medication (sulfasalazine or hydroxychloroquine). In the second phase, all patients received Cat's Claw extract for 28 weeks, and the number of painful and swollen joints significantly dropped, compared to the values after the first phase. The aqueous hydrochloric acid extract of U. tomentosa root provided 0.88 mg/day of POAs and contained no TOAs.25
An earlier pilot trial in Peru found that treatment with Cat's Claw powder for 6 months significantly decreased morning stiffness, pain intensity and the number of painful and swollen joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The placebo group did not experience these benefits.26
In a small trial conducted in Peru, patients with acute infections of the oral cavity were treated with ampicillin (antibiotic) and U. tomentosa or ampicillin and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam. After 5 days, treatment with the antibiotic and Cat's Claw was effective in 90% of patients, compared with 70% in the other group. Treatment was effective if the symptoms of inflammation (swelling, redness, heat, pain) had reduced to zero.27
Other Conditions
Some benefit has been found for Cat’s Claw extract in the treatment of allergies, bronchitis, gastritis and duodenal ulcer (small, pilot studies).22
Not for Public Distribution. For Education of Health Care Professionals Only. 2
Actions
Immune enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.
Indications
Immune enhancing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.
Indications
-
Acute and chronic infections; chronic immune deficiency
disorders such as HIV infection.
-
Chronic inflammatory conditions including arthritis, gastritis,
ulcerative colitis, asthma, mouth ulcers.
-
Prevention and adjuvant treatment of cancer.
-
May be useful for autoimmune conditions.
Cautions and Contraindications
Diarrhoea has been reported, often when high doses have been administered.2 Contraindicated in pregnancy and in women wishing to conceive.
REFERENCES
1 Keplinger K et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1999; 64: 23 2 Obregón Vilches, Lida E. Cat's claw: Uncaria genus. Botanical, chemical, and pharmacological studies of Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. Lima, Instituto de Fitoterapia Americano, 1995. 3 De Feo V. Fitoterapia 1992, 63: 417 4 Ocampo R, Balick MJ. Plants of Semillas Sagradas: An Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica. Finca Luna Nueva, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2009. 5 Valadeau C et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127: 175 6 Sanz-Biset J et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2009; 122: 333 7 Bourdy G et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 70: 87 8 Tene V et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2007; 111: 63 9 Maxwell N. Witch Doctor’s Apprentice, 3rd Edn. Citadel Press, New York, 1990. 10 De Jong W et al. Uña de gato. Fate and future of a Peruvian forest resource. Occasional Paper No. 22. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia, 1999. 11 De Jong W et al. Int Tree Crops J 2000; 10: 321 12 Laus G et al. Phytochemistry 1997; 45: 855 13 Lavault M et al. Planta Med 1983; 47: 244 14 Sandoval-Chacon M et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1998; 12: 1279 15 Aquino R et al. J Nat Prod 1991; 54: 453 16 Eberlin S et al. Int Immunopharmacol 2005; 5: 1235 17 Bednarek D et al. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 2004; 48: 289 18 Wagner H et al. Planta Med 1985; 51: 419 19 Dreifuss AA et al. J Ethnopharmacol. In Press. 20 Allen-Hall L et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127: 685 21 Krallendorn, Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC Root Extract: Information for Physicians and Dispensing Chemists, 3rd revised Edn. Immodal Pharmaka GmbH, Volders, Austria, 1995. Cited in Jones K. Cat’s claw: Healing vine of Peru. Sylvan Press, Seattle, 1995. 22 Krallendorn, Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC Root Extract: Information for Physicians and Dispensing Chemists, 3rd revised Edn. Immodal Pharmaka GmbH, Volders, Austria, 1995. Cited in McKenna DJ, Jones K, Hughes K et al. Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, 2nd Edn. New York, Haworth Herbal Press, 2002. 23 Mason GR et al. Eur J Surg Oncol 2001; 27: 509 24 Rizzi R et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1993; 38: 63 25 Mur E et al. J Rheumatol 2002; 29: 678 26 Castañeda O et al. Rev Per Reumatol 1998; 4: 15 27 Lahoud VS et al. Odontol Sanmarq 2001; 1: 7
Author: Michelle Morgan © Copyright 2010 MediHerb.
1 Keplinger K et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1999; 64: 23 2 Obregón Vilches, Lida E. Cat's claw: Uncaria genus. Botanical, chemical, and pharmacological studies of Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. Lima, Instituto de Fitoterapia Americano, 1995. 3 De Feo V. Fitoterapia 1992, 63: 417 4 Ocampo R, Balick MJ. Plants of Semillas Sagradas: An Ethnomedicinal Garden in Costa Rica. Finca Luna Nueva, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2009. 5 Valadeau C et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127: 175 6 Sanz-Biset J et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2009; 122: 333 7 Bourdy G et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 70: 87 8 Tene V et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2007; 111: 63 9 Maxwell N. Witch Doctor’s Apprentice, 3rd Edn. Citadel Press, New York, 1990. 10 De Jong W et al. Uña de gato. Fate and future of a Peruvian forest resource. Occasional Paper No. 22. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, Indonesia, 1999. 11 De Jong W et al. Int Tree Crops J 2000; 10: 321 12 Laus G et al. Phytochemistry 1997; 45: 855 13 Lavault M et al. Planta Med 1983; 47: 244 14 Sandoval-Chacon M et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1998; 12: 1279 15 Aquino R et al. J Nat Prod 1991; 54: 453 16 Eberlin S et al. Int Immunopharmacol 2005; 5: 1235 17 Bednarek D et al. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 2004; 48: 289 18 Wagner H et al. Planta Med 1985; 51: 419 19 Dreifuss AA et al. J Ethnopharmacol. In Press. 20 Allen-Hall L et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2010; 127: 685 21 Krallendorn, Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC Root Extract: Information for Physicians and Dispensing Chemists, 3rd revised Edn. Immodal Pharmaka GmbH, Volders, Austria, 1995. Cited in Jones K. Cat’s claw: Healing vine of Peru. Sylvan Press, Seattle, 1995. 22 Krallendorn, Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC Root Extract: Information for Physicians and Dispensing Chemists, 3rd revised Edn. Immodal Pharmaka GmbH, Volders, Austria, 1995. Cited in McKenna DJ, Jones K, Hughes K et al. Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements, 2nd Edn. New York, Haworth Herbal Press, 2002. 23 Mason GR et al. Eur J Surg Oncol 2001; 27: 509 24 Rizzi R et al. J Ethnopharmacol 1993; 38: 63 25 Mur E et al. J Rheumatol 2002; 29: 678 26 Castañeda O et al. Rev Per Reumatol 1998; 4: 15 27 Lahoud VS et al. Odontol Sanmarq 2001; 1: 7
Author: Michelle Morgan © Copyright 2010 MediHerb.
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