Uncaria tomentosa
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Uncaria tomentosa.png
|genus = Uncaria
|species = tomentosa
|authority = (Willd. ex Schult.) DC.{{GRIN | access-date=2008-03-01}}
}}
Uncaria tomentosa is a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America. It is known as cat's claw or uña de gato in Spanish because of its claw-shaped thorns.{{cite web | title=Cat's claw | publisher=Drugs.com | date=6 September 2021 | url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/cat-s-claw.html | access-date=16 August 2022}} The plant root bark is used in herbalism for a variety of ailments, and is sold as a dietary supplement.{{cite web |title=Assessment report on Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC., cortex |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/herbal-report/draft-assessment-report-uncaria-tomentosa-willd-ex-schult-dc-cortex_en.pdf |publisher=European Medicines Agency |access-date=11 January 2019 |date=10 March 2015}}{{cite web |title=Cat's claw |url=https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cats-claw |publisher=National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health |access-date=17 August 2022 |date=1 May 2020}}
Evidence of anti-inflammatory action is limited to cell culture studies.{{cite journal |last1=Sandoval-Chacón |first1=M |last2=Thompson |first2=JH |last3=Zhang |first3=XJ |last4=Liu |first4=X |last5=Mannick |first5=EE |last6=Sadowska-Krowicka |first6=H |last7=Charbonnet |first7=RM |last8=Clark |first8=DA |last9=Miller |first9=MJ |title=Antiinflammatory actions of cat's claw: the role of NF-κB |journal=Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics |date=December 1998 |volume=12 |issue=12 |pages=1279–1289 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2036.1998.00424.x |pmid=9882039 |s2cid=24640166 }}{{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Mark J. S. |last2=Zhang |first2=Xiao-Jing |last3=Charbonnet |first3=Randi M. |last4=Clark |first4=David A. |last5=Sandoval |first5=Manuel |title=The Anti-Inflammatory Actions of the Herbal Medicine, Cat's Claw, Are Due to a Suppression of NF-κB Activation and Inhibition of Gene Expression |journal=Pediatric Research |date=April 1999 |volume=45 |issue=7 |pages=114 |doi=10.1203/00006450-199904020-00676 |s2cid=72216843 |doi-access=free }} and has not been demonstrated in randomized control human trials.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} Cat's claw is being studied for a number of other possible uses, including HIV, Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), endometriosis, kidney problems, bladder cancer, and Alzheimer disease. More research is needed before scientists can say whether it is effective.{{cite news |title=Cat's claw Information |url=https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/cats-claw |work=Mount Sinai Health System }}{{cite news |last1=Patel |first1=Kamal |title=Research Breakdown on Cat's claw |url=https://examine.com/supplements/cats-claw/research/ |work=Examine }}
Description
Uncaria tomentosa is a liana deriving its name from hook-like thorns that resemble the claws of a cat. U. tomentosa can grow to a length of up to 30 m (100 ft), climbing by means of these thorns. The leaves are elliptic with a smooth edge, and grow in opposing pairs. Cat's claw is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest, with its habitat being restricted primarily to the tropical areas of South and Central America.
Taxonomy
File:Florae Columbiae (Plate CLXXX) (8205993854).jpg
There are two species of cat's claw commonly used in North America and Europe, Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis, having different properties and uses. The two are frequently confused but U. tomentosa is the more commonly used in traditional medicine.{{ cite journal |vauthors=Gattuso M, di Sapio O, Gattuso S, Pereyra LE | title = Morphoanatomical Studies of Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis Bark and Leaves | journal = Phytomedicine | year = 2004 | volume = 11 | issue = 2–3 | pages = 213–223 | pmid = 15070175 | doi = 10.1078/0944-7113-00315 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/resources-for-professionals/clinical-tools-and-resources/cimer/therapies/herbal-plant-biologic-therapies/cats-claw-scientific.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826144058/http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/resources-for-professionals/clinical-tools-and-resources/cimer/therapies/herbal-plant-biologic-therapies/cats-claw-scientific.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2013|date=31 May 2006|publisher=M.D. Anderson Center|title= Detailed Scientific Review of Cat's Claw (archived)|access-date=10 January 2019}} U. tomentosa is further divided into two chemotypes that remain under preliminary research for their properties and compounds.{{ cite journal |vauthors=Keplinger K, Laus G, Wurm M, Dierich MP, Teppner H | title = Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. — Ethnomedicinal Use and New Pharmacological, Toxicological and Botanical Results | journal = Journal of Ethnopharmacology | year = 1999 | volume = 64 | issue = 1 | pages = 23–34 | pmid = 10075119 | doi = 10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00096-8 | url = http://www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/sarticles/Uncaria81B4.pdf }} There are other plants which are known as cat's claw (or uña de gato) in Mexico and Latin America; however, they are entirely different plant species, belonging to neither the genus Uncaria, nor to the family Rubiaceae.
Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals in Uncaria tomentosa root bark include oxindole and indole alkaloids, glycosides, organic acids, proanthocyanidins, sterols, and triterpenes, glycosides, tannins, polyphenols, catechins, rhynchophylline, and beta-sitosterol.{{cite book|title=Cat's claw |publisher=LiverTox, US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases|date=18 February 2019|pmid=31643645 |url= https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548323/}}
Traditional medicine
Interactions
Cat's claw has extensive interactions with numerous prescription drugs. Its safety over long-term use or during pregnancy has not been scientifically determined.
Adverse effects
Individuals allergic to plants in the family Rubiaceae and different species of Uncaria may be more likely to have adverse reactions to cat's claw. Allergic reactions can include itching, rash, and skin inflammation. Gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, headache, impaired kidney and hormonal effects, and neuropathy are other possible effects.
People requiring anticoagulation, blood pressure, or immune therapy should not use cat's claw.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite journal |last1=Santa Maria |first1=A |last2=Lopez |first2=A |last3=Diaz |first3=M.M |last4=Albán |first4=J |last5=Galán de Mera |first5=A |last6=Vicente Orellana |first6=J.A |last7=Pozuelo |first7=J.M |title=Evaluation of the toxicity of Uncaria tomentosa by bioassays in vitro |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=August 1997 |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=183–187 |doi=10.1016/S0378-8741(97)00067-6 |pmid=9292411 }}
- {{cite journal |last1=Yunis Aguinaga |first1=Jefferson |last2=Claudiano |first2=Gustavo S. |last3=Marcusso |first3=Paulo F. |last4=Ikefuti |first4=Cynthia |last5=Ortega |first5=George G. |last6=Eto |first6=Silas F. |last7=da Cruz |first7=Claudinei |last8=Moraes |first8=Juliet R. E. |last9=Moraes |first9=Flávio R. |last10=Fernandes |first10=João B. K. |title=Acute Toxicity and Determination of the Active Constituents of Aqueous Extract of Uncaria tomentosa Bark in Hyphessobrycon eques |journal=Journal of Toxicology |date=2014 |volume=2014 |page=412437 |doi=10.1155/2014/412437 |pmid=24734041 |pmc=3964835 |doi-access=free }}
- {{Commons category-inline|Uncaria tomentosa}}
- [https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/phytochem/plants/show/2064?qlookup=Uncaria+tomentosa Uncaria tomentosa List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's Databases)]
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Category:Flora of Central America
Category:Flora of Trinidad and Tobago