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Cat's Claw


1. 1/30/02 Healthnotes Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) Historical or traditional use (may or may not be supported by scientific studies): Cat's claw has been reportedly used by indigenous peoples in the Andes to treat inflammation, rheumatism, gastric ulcers, tumors, dysentery, and as birth control.1 Cat's claw is popular in South American folk medicine for intestinal complaints, gastric ulcers, arthritis, and to promote wound healing.
   
   
2. 1/30/02 Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat's claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensis. Inflamm Res 2001 Sep;50(9):442-8 PMID: 11603848 CONCLUSION: Cat's claw is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. The species, U guianensis and U tomentosa are equiactive. They are effective antioxidants, but their anti-inflammatory properties may result from their ability to inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of cat's claw, an Amazonian medicinal plant, to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, collect safety and tolerance information and compare the antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions of Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were recruited, 30 were treated with freeze-dried U guianensis, and 15 with placebo RESULTS: Cat's claw had no deleterious effects on blood or liver function or other significant side-effects compared to placebo. Pain associated with activity, medical and patient assessment scores were all significantly reduced, with benefits occurring within the first week of therapy.
   
   
3. 1/30/02 Antiinflammatory actions of cat's claw: the role of NF-kappaB. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1998 Dec;12(12):1279-89 PMID: 9882039 CONCLUSIONS: Cat's claw protects cells against oxidative stress and negated the activation of NF-kappaB. These studies provide a mechanistic evidence for the widely held belief that cat's claw is an effective anti-inflammatory agent.
   
   
4. 1/30/02 Review of antiviral and immunomodulating properties of plants of the Peruvian rainforest with a particular emphasis on Una de Gato and Sangre de Grado Altern Med Rev 2001 Dec;6(6):567-79 PMID: 11804547 Viral diseases, including emerging and chronic viruses, are an increasing worldwide health concern. As a consequence, the discovery of new antiviral agents from plants has assumed more urgency than in the past. A number of native Amazonian medicines of plant origin are known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, although only a few have been studied for their antiviral properties and immunomodulating effects. Those most studied include: Sangre de Grado (drago) (Croton lechleri) in the Euphorbiaceae family and Una de Gato (Uncaria tomentosa) in the Rubiaceae family
   
   

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