Cat's claw

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Uncaria Tomentosa (Cat's Claw) is an Amazonian vine that has been traditionally recommended for antiinflammatory and fatigue syndromes.

Cat's claw is most often used for

What else is Cat's claw known as?
Note that Cat's claw is also known as:
  • Cat's Claw
  • Vincaria
  • Uncaria Tomentosa
Cat's claw should not be confused with:
Dosage information

Studies using Cat's Claw tend to use 250-350mg of the ethanolic extract once a day. This is usually standardized to a Pentacyclic Oxindole Alkaloid content.

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References
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4.^Luna-Palencia GR, Huerta-Heredia AA, Cerda-García-Rojas CM, Ramos-Valdivia ACDifferential alkaloid profile in Uncaria tomentosa micropropagated plantlets and root culturesBiotechnol Lett.(2013 Jan 8)
5.^Aquino R, De Simone F, Vincieri FF, Pizza C, Gaćs-Baitz ENew polyhydroxylated triterpenes from Uncaria tomentosaJ Nat Prod.(1990 May-Jun)
7.^Pavei C, Kaiser S, Verza SG, Borre GL, Ortega GGHPLC-PDA method for quinovic acid glycosides assay in Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) associated with UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysisJ Pharm Biomed Anal.(2012 Mar 25)
11.^Kitajima M, Hashimoto K, Yokoya M, Takayama H, Sandoval M, Aimi NTwo new nor-triterpene glycosides from peruvian "Uña de Gato" (Uncaria tomentosa)J Nat Prod.(2003 Feb)
13.^Kitajima M, Hashimoto K, Yokoya M, Takayama H, Aimi N, Sakai SIA new gluco indole alkaloid, 3, 4-dehydro-5-carboxystrictosidine, from Peruvian Uña de Gato (Uncaria tomentosa)Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo).(2000 Oct)
14.^Aquino R, De Feo V, De Simone F, Pizza C, Cirino GPlant metabolites. New compounds and anti-inflammatory activity of Uncaria tomentosaJ Nat Prod.(1991 Mar-Apr)
16.^de Matta SM, Monache FD, Ferrari F, Marini-Bettolo GBAlkaloids and procyanidins of an Uncaria sp. from PeruFarmaco Sci.(1976 Jul)
18.^Yépez AM, de Ugaz OL, Alvarez CM, De Feo V, Aquino R, De Simone F, Pizza CQuinovic acid glycosides from Uncaria guianensisPhytochemistry.(1991)
21.^Sandoval M, Okuhama NN, Zhang XJ, Condezo LA, Lao J, Angeles' FM, Musah RA, Bobrowski P, Miller MJAnti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis) are independent of their alkaloid contentPhytomedicine.(2002 May)
22.^Sandoval M, Charbonnet RM, Okuhama NN, Roberts J, Krenova Z, Trentacosti AM, Miller MJCat's claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotectionFree Radic Biol Med.(2000 Jul 1)
23.^Rosenbaum CC, O'Mathúna DP, Chavez M, Shields KAntioxidants and antiinflammatory dietary supplements for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritisAltern Ther Health Med.(2010 Mar-Apr)
25.^Santos Araújo Mdo C, Farias IL, Gutierres J, Dalmora SL, Flores N, Farias J, de Cruz I, Chiesa J, Morsch VM, Chitolina Schetinger MRUncaria tomentosa-Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: Clinical TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
26.^Bukowska B, Bors M, Gulewicz K, Koter-Michalak MUncaria tomentosa extracts protect human erythrocyte catalase against damage induced by 2,4-D-Na and its metabolitesFood Chem Toxicol.(2012 Jun)
27.^Bukowska B, Chajdys A, Duda W, Duchnowicz PCatalase activity in human erythrocytes: effect of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolitesCell Biol Int.(2000)
28.^Bors M, Bukowska B, Pilarski R, Gulewicz K, Oszmiański J, Michałowicz J, Koter-Michalak MProtective activity of the Uncaria tomentosa extracts on human erythrocytes in oxidative stress induced by 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and catecholFood Chem Toxicol.(2011 Sep)
31.^Bors M, Sicińska P, Michałowicz J, Wieteska P, Gulewicz K, Bukowska BEvaluation of the effect of Uncaria tomentosa extracts on the size and shape of human erythrocytes (in vitro)Environ Toxicol Pharmacol.(2012 Mar)
32.^Sheng Y, Li L, Holmgren K, Pero RWDNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer studyPhytomedicine.(2001 Jul)
33.^Piscoya J, Rodriguez Z, Bustamante SA, Okuhama NN, Miller MJ, Sandoval MEfficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat's claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensisInflamm Res.(2001 Sep)
34.^Rojas-Duran R, González-Aspajo G, Ruiz-Martel C, Bourdy G, Doroteo-Ortega VH, Alban-Castillo J, Robert G, Auberger P, Deharo EAnti-inflammatory activity of Mitraphylline isolated from Uncaria tomentosa barkJ Ethnopharmacol.(2012 Oct 11)
36.^De Benedetti F, Meazza C, Oliveri M, Pignatti P, Vivarelli M, Alonzi T, Fattori E, Garrone S, Barreca A, Martini AEffect of IL-6 on IGF binding protein-3: a study in IL-6 transgenic mice and in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritisEndocrinology.(2001 Nov)
37.^Mix KS, Mengshol JA, Benbow U, Vincenti MP, Sporn MB, Brinckerhoff CEA synthetic triterpenoid selectively inhibits the induction of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 13 by inflammatory cytokinesArthritis Rheum.(2001 May)
38.^Bors M, Michałowicz J, Pilarski R, Sicińska P, Gulewicz K, Bukowska BStudies of biological properties of Uncaria tomentosa extracts on human blood mononuclear cellsJ Ethnopharmacol.(2012 Aug 1)
43.^Farias IL, Araújo MC, Farias JG, Rossato LV, Elsenbach LI, Dalmora SL, Flores NM, Durigon M, Cruz IB, Morsch VM, Schetinger MRUncaria tomentosa for Reducing Side Effects Caused by Chemotherapy in CRC Patients: Clinical TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
45.^Nogueira Neto J, Cavalcante FL, Carvalho RA, Rodrigues TG, Xavier MS, Furtado PG, Schor EContraceptive effect of Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) in rats with experimental endometriosisActa Cir Bras.(2011)