INGREDIENTS
Cat's claw contains quinovic acid glycosides and six known oxindole alkaloids
such as isopteropodine, pteropodine, isomitraphylline, mitraphlline,
isocynochophylline and rychophylline.[18]
SIDE EFFECTS OF CAT's CLAW
Cat's claw has been used for a long time. Cat's claw and its supplments
appear to be safe and well-tolerated in various studies. The side effects of
cat's claw were found to be minor ,while the studies demonstrated relative
safety and modest benefit of cat's claw to various conditions such as tender
joints and knee pain. [14,16] Cat's claw benefits may result from their ability
to inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production, i.e.
anti-inflammantion. [16]
CAT's CLAW SUPPLEMENTS
NOW Cat's Claw 5000 Now Foods claims that this product is a natural
extract of the highest quality inner bark of authentic Uncaria tomentosa from
Peruvian Rainforest. Also called Una de Gato, it has been used for hundreds
of years by the native Ashanica Indians. Cat's Claw 5000 is a concentrated
water and alcohol extract standardized to contain a minimum of 3% total
alkaloids and 15% total polyphenols. The serving size is 1 capsule. Each
serving contain 5000 mg of cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa) [334 mg of 15:1
standardized extract equivalent to Natural Bark].
Cat's Claw Extract, Jarrow, 500 mg The label of this product claims to have
500 mg of cat's claw (6:1 extract) (from inner bark) in each capsule. The
label suggests to take 1-4 cat's claw capsules per day and dissolve capsule
in hot water for best bioavailability.
Cat's Claw Defense Complex, Source Naturals. Not sure why.. this product
combines a lot of different herbs and nutrients. The label claims this
combination is to support the immune system.
RESEARCH STUDIES
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Cat's claw may offer multiple health benefits. Researchers have
demonstrated that its benefits on chemoprevention are related to its main
component-C-Med-100.
C-MED-100 Sheng Y and co-workers from Lund University, Sweden,
demonstrated that C-Med-100, the main active ingredient of Cat's claw,
could inhibit cell growth without cell death, leading to DNA repair, immune
stimulation, anti-inflammation and cancer prevention. [6] On the other hand,
Akesson C et al at Lund University, Sweden, provided direct evidence that
C-Med 100 inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity and
proposed that this at least partially caused the inhibition of proliferation.
They have demonstrated that a hot water Cat's claw extract could inhibit T
and B lymphocyte proliferation. This extract also did not interfere with IL-2
production nor IL-2 receptor signaling. They further suggested that retarded
cell cycle progression caused the proliferation inhibition. [7]
Cat's claw contains quinovic acid glycosides and six known oxindole alkaloids
such as isopteropodine, pteropodine, isomitraphylline, mitraphlline,
isocynochophylline and rychophylline.[18]
SIDE EFFECTS OF CAT's CLAW
Cat's claw has been used for a long time. Cat's claw and its supplments
appear to be safe and well-tolerated in various studies. The side effects of
cat's claw were found to be minor ,while the studies demonstrated relative
safety and modest benefit of cat's claw to various conditions such as tender
joints and knee pain. [14,16] Cat's claw benefits may result from their ability
to inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production, i.e.
anti-inflammantion. [16]
CAT's CLAW SUPPLEMENTS
NOW Cat's Claw 5000 Now Foods claims that this product is a natural
extract of the highest quality inner bark of authentic Uncaria tomentosa from
Peruvian Rainforest. Also called Una de Gato, it has been used for hundreds
of years by the native Ashanica Indians. Cat's Claw 5000 is a concentrated
water and alcohol extract standardized to contain a minimum of 3% total
alkaloids and 15% total polyphenols. The serving size is 1 capsule. Each
serving contain 5000 mg of cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa) [334 mg of 15:1
standardized extract equivalent to Natural Bark].
Cat's Claw Extract, Jarrow, 500 mg The label of this product claims to have
500 mg of cat's claw (6:1 extract) (from inner bark) in each capsule. The
label suggests to take 1-4 cat's claw capsules per day and dissolve capsule
in hot water for best bioavailability.
Cat's Claw Defense Complex, Source Naturals. Not sure why.. this product
combines a lot of different herbs and nutrients. The label claims this
combination is to support the immune system.
RESEARCH STUDIES
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Cat's claw may offer multiple health benefits. Researchers have
demonstrated that its benefits on chemoprevention are related to its main
component-C-Med-100.
C-MED-100 Sheng Y and co-workers from Lund University, Sweden,
demonstrated that C-Med-100, the main active ingredient of Cat's claw,
could inhibit cell growth without cell death, leading to DNA repair, immune
stimulation, anti-inflammation and cancer prevention. [6] On the other hand,
Akesson C et al at Lund University, Sweden, provided direct evidence that
C-Med 100 inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity and
proposed that this at least partially caused the inhibition of proliferation.
They have demonstrated that a hot water Cat's claw extract could inhibit T
and B lymphocyte proliferation. This extract also did not interfere with IL-2
production nor IL-2 receptor signaling. They further suggested that retarded
cell cycle progression caused the proliferation inhibition. [7]
A TEST-TUBE STUDY Riva L et al investigated the effects of Cat's claw extracts
on the growth of a human breast cancer cell line (MCF7). Their data indicated
that, in addition to the antimutagenic activity, U. tomentosa extracts and fractions
exert a direct antiproliferative activity on MCF7. The bioassay-directed
fractionation from barks and leaves resulted in the isolation of two active
fractions, which displayed an IC50 of 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml, respectively and an
antiproliferative effect, with about 90% of inhibition at a concentration of 100
mg/ml. [8]
ANTI-INFLAMMATION
Cisneros FJ et al, North Carolina A & T State University, USA found that cat's claw
extract appeared to prevent O(3)-induced respiratory inflammation in male mice.
[9] While, Aguilar JL et al at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru, found
that the anti-inflammatory activity was significantly higher using the
hydroalcoholic compared with the aqueous extract . The extracts also showed
little inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase-1 and -2.[10]
IMMUNO-MODULATION
Winkler C et al, University of Innsbruck, Austria, determined the effects of two
Cat's claw extracts and two pure alkaloid preparations of uncaria tomentosa on
peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Their studies suggested that the
immuno-biochemical modulation of Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa) extracts is
related to interferon-gamma [11]
Sandoval M et al, Albany Medical College, New York, prepared cat's claw water
extraction. They used murine macrophages in cytotoxicity assays in response to
the free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH, 0.3 microM) and ultraviolet
light (UV) light. They induced TNFalpha production by lipopolysaccharide. They
found cat's claw was an effective scavenger of DPPH. Cat's claw (10 microg/ml
freeze-dried) was fully protective against DPPH and UV irradiation-induced
cytotoxicity. Cat's claw could also suppress TNFalpha production. They concluded
that cat's claw is an effective antioxidant and it is a potent inhibitor of TNFalpha
production. And, this suppression o TNFalpha synthesis is the primary mechanism
for cat's claw anti-inflammatory actions or immuno-modulation. [12]
LEUKOPENIA - CAT's CLAW
Akesson Ch et al at Lund University, Sweden found a dose-dependent increase
in spleen cell numbers in the supplemented mice (with Cat's claw extract, C-Med
100), but the proportions of B cells, T cells, NK cells, granulocytes, and memory
lymphocytes were normal. They interrupted the treatment, the cellularity returned
to normal level within four weeks. They considered that the accumulation was
due to prolonged cell survival. They concluded that C-Med 100 treatment
significantly prolonged lymphocyte survival and suggested to use C-Med 100
(main active ingredient of Cat's claw) to accelerate the recovery of patients
suffered from leukopenia. [13]
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Mur E et al, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria conducted a Randomized
double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria
tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. They found patients
receiving the Cat's claw extract only during the second phase experienced a
reduction in the number of painful (p = 0.003) and swollen joints (p = 0.007) and
the Ritchie Index (p = 0.004) compared to the values after 24 weeks of placebo.
Only minor side effects were observed. [14]
GUT EPITHELIAL CELL PROTECTION
Miller MJ et al at Albany Medical College, New York, evaluated the potential use of
ascorbic acid, green tea and Cat's claw to limit cell death in response to
oxidants. They exposed cultured human gastric epithelial cells or murine small
intestinal epithelial cells to oxidants such as DPPH, H2O2 and peroxynitrite and
then incubate them with antioxidants. They determined the cell death via
apoptosis or necrosis. They found that green tea and Cat's claw were equally
protective against peroxynitrite and H2O2 and green tea was more effective than
cat's claw in reducing DPPH-induced apoptosis.[
..cat's claw. [15]
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Piscoya J et al, Facultad de Medicina, Lima, concluded that cat's claw is an
effective treatment for osteoarthritis in a trial of 45 patients. The species, U
guianensis and U tomentosa are equiactive. Both cat's claw species are effective
antioxidants, but their anti-inflammatory properties may result from their ability to
inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production. [16]
DNA REPAIR
Sheng Y et al, University of Lund, Sweden, fed four healthy adult males with C-
MED-100 (main active ingredient of Cat's claw) daily at 5 mg/kg for 6 consecutive
weeks. They didn't observed any toxicity. However, they found elevated amount
of WBC. They irradiated rats and they found repair of DNA single and double
strand breaks after MED-100 (main active ingredient of Cat's claw) treatment
[17]
NOTE
THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. MORE RESEARCH STUDIES ARE NEEDED
TO CONFIRM SOME FINDINGS ABOVE. HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS CANNOT REPLACE ANY MEDICINE.
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR, IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS.
References
1. Rizzi R, Re F, Bianchi A, et al. ..Cat's claw.., J Ethnopharmacol 1993;38:63–77.2.2. Keplinger H.. Cat's
claw.., US Patent no. 5,302,611, April 12, 1994.3. Aquino R, De Feo V, De Simone F, et al. cat's claw..., J
Nat Prod 1991;54:453–9.4. Rizzi R, Re F, Bianchi A, et al. cat's claw... J Ethnopharmacol 1993;38:63–
77.5. Piscoya J, Rodriguez Z, Bustamante SA, et al. cat's claw...Inflamm Res 2001;50:442–8. [6] J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):577-84. Epub 2004 Dec 08]. [7] Int Immunopharmacol. 2003 Dec;3(13-
14):1889-900] [8] Anticancer Res. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4A):2457-61.[9] J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):
355-64.[10] [J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):271-6].v[.12].Cat Claw....Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jul 1;29
(1):71-8]. [.13]..cat's claw...Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):23-33].[14] J Rheumatol. 2002 Apr;29(4):678-81.]
[15]BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1(1):11. Epub 2001 Dec][16] Cat's claw.. Inflamm Res. 2001 Sep;50
(9):442-8][17]...cat's claw..J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):115-26] . [18] Cat's Claw Extract, Jarrow, 500
mg, 100 caps, iherb.com, online publication. October 15, 2005.
on the growth of a human breast cancer cell line (MCF7). Their data indicated
that, in addition to the antimutagenic activity, U. tomentosa extracts and fractions
exert a direct antiproliferative activity on MCF7. The bioassay-directed
fractionation from barks and leaves resulted in the isolation of two active
fractions, which displayed an IC50 of 10 mg/ml and 20 mg/ml, respectively and an
antiproliferative effect, with about 90% of inhibition at a concentration of 100
mg/ml. [8]
ANTI-INFLAMMATION
Cisneros FJ et al, North Carolina A & T State University, USA found that cat's claw
extract appeared to prevent O(3)-induced respiratory inflammation in male mice.
[9] While, Aguilar JL et al at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru, found
that the anti-inflammatory activity was significantly higher using the
hydroalcoholic compared with the aqueous extract . The extracts also showed
little inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase-1 and -2.[10]
IMMUNO-MODULATION
Winkler C et al, University of Innsbruck, Austria, determined the effects of two
Cat's claw extracts and two pure alkaloid preparations of uncaria tomentosa on
peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Their studies suggested that the
immuno-biochemical modulation of Cat's claw (uncaria tomentosa) extracts is
related to interferon-gamma [11]
Sandoval M et al, Albany Medical College, New York, prepared cat's claw water
extraction. They used murine macrophages in cytotoxicity assays in response to
the free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH, 0.3 microM) and ultraviolet
light (UV) light. They induced TNFalpha production by lipopolysaccharide. They
found cat's claw was an effective scavenger of DPPH. Cat's claw (10 microg/ml
freeze-dried) was fully protective against DPPH and UV irradiation-induced
cytotoxicity. Cat's claw could also suppress TNFalpha production. They concluded
that cat's claw is an effective antioxidant and it is a potent inhibitor of TNFalpha
production. And, this suppression o TNFalpha synthesis is the primary mechanism
for cat's claw anti-inflammatory actions or immuno-modulation. [12]
LEUKOPENIA - CAT's CLAW
Akesson Ch et al at Lund University, Sweden found a dose-dependent increase
in spleen cell numbers in the supplemented mice (with Cat's claw extract, C-Med
100), but the proportions of B cells, T cells, NK cells, granulocytes, and memory
lymphocytes were normal. They interrupted the treatment, the cellularity returned
to normal level within four weeks. They considered that the accumulation was
due to prolonged cell survival. They concluded that C-Med 100 treatment
significantly prolonged lymphocyte survival and suggested to use C-Med 100
(main active ingredient of Cat's claw) to accelerate the recovery of patients
suffered from leukopenia. [13]
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Mur E et al, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria conducted a Randomized
double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria
tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. They found patients
receiving the Cat's claw extract only during the second phase experienced a
reduction in the number of painful (p = 0.003) and swollen joints (p = 0.007) and
the Ritchie Index (p = 0.004) compared to the values after 24 weeks of placebo.
Only minor side effects were observed. [14]
GUT EPITHELIAL CELL PROTECTION
Miller MJ et al at Albany Medical College, New York, evaluated the potential use of
ascorbic acid, green tea and Cat's claw to limit cell death in response to
oxidants. They exposed cultured human gastric epithelial cells or murine small
intestinal epithelial cells to oxidants such as DPPH, H2O2 and peroxynitrite and
then incubate them with antioxidants. They determined the cell death via
apoptosis or necrosis. They found that green tea and Cat's claw were equally
protective against peroxynitrite and H2O2 and green tea was more effective than
cat's claw in reducing DPPH-induced apoptosis.[
..cat's claw. [15]
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Piscoya J et al, Facultad de Medicina, Lima, concluded that cat's claw is an
effective treatment for osteoarthritis in a trial of 45 patients. The species, U
guianensis and U tomentosa are equiactive. Both cat's claw species are effective
antioxidants, but their anti-inflammatory properties may result from their ability to
inhibit TNFalpha and to a lesser extent PGE2 production. [16]
DNA REPAIR
Sheng Y et al, University of Lund, Sweden, fed four healthy adult males with C-
MED-100 (main active ingredient of Cat's claw) daily at 5 mg/kg for 6 consecutive
weeks. They didn't observed any toxicity. However, they found elevated amount
of WBC. They irradiated rats and they found repair of DNA single and double
strand breaks after MED-100 (main active ingredient of Cat's claw) treatment
[17]
NOTE
THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. MORE RESEARCH STUDIES ARE NEEDED
TO CONFIRM SOME FINDINGS ABOVE. HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS CANNOT REPLACE ANY MEDICINE.
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR, IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS.
References
1. Rizzi R, Re F, Bianchi A, et al. ..Cat's claw.., J Ethnopharmacol 1993;38:63–77.2.2. Keplinger H.. Cat's
claw.., US Patent no. 5,302,611, April 12, 1994.3. Aquino R, De Feo V, De Simone F, et al. cat's claw..., J
Nat Prod 1991;54:453–9.4. Rizzi R, Re F, Bianchi A, et al. cat's claw... J Ethnopharmacol 1993;38:63–
77.5. Piscoya J, Rodriguez Z, Bustamante SA, et al. cat's claw...Inflamm Res 2001;50:442–8. [6] J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):577-84. Epub 2004 Dec 08]. [7] Int Immunopharmacol. 2003 Dec;3(13-
14):1889-900] [8] Anticancer Res. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4A):2457-61.[9] J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):
355-64.[10] [J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):271-6].v[.12].Cat Claw....Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jul 1;29
(1):71-8]. [.13]..cat's claw...Phytomedicine. 2003 Jan;10(1):23-33].[14] J Rheumatol. 2002 Apr;29(4):678-81.]
[15]BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1(1):11. Epub 2001 Dec][16] Cat's claw.. Inflamm Res. 2001 Sep;50
(9):442-8][17]...cat's claw..J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):115-26] . [18] Cat's Claw Extract, Jarrow, 500
mg, 100 caps, iherb.com, online publication. October 15, 2005.
| About Cat's Claw.... Cat's claw grows in the rain forests of the Andes Mountains in South America. South American use cat's claw to treat medicine for treating intestinal complaints, gastric ulcers, arthritis, and to promote wound healing. People also believe that cat's claw can help cancer [1]. In vitro studies, cat's claw stimulated immune function [2] and cat's claw may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities [3,4]. In a clinical trial, Cat's claw is found to relieve pain and improve the overall conditions for arthritis [5]. |
CAT's CLAW benefits and side effects, research finds,
zhion@zhion.com updated on Feb , 2008
zhion@zhion.com updated on Feb , 2008
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