Cat's Claw Research
38 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8/10
Uncaria tomentosa as a Promising Natural Source of Molecules with Multiple Activities: Review of Its Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology
Marques O et al. • International journal of molecular sciences (2025)
The present work emphasizes the current pharmacological properties of Uncaria tomentosa, evidencing its therapeutic benefits and encouraging further research on this medicinal plant.
- The present paper reviews research progress relating to the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ut, and some promising research routes are also discussed.
- We highlight the centrality of its different biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antiviral, and antinociceptive, among others.
- The present work emphasizes the current pharmacological properties of Uncaria tomentosa, evidencing its therapeutic benefits and encouraging further research on this medicinal plant.
Systemic therapies for preventing or treating aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms in early breast cancer
Roberts KE et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2022)
AIMSS are chronic and complex symptoms with a significant impact on women with early breast cancer taking AI.
- The two studies, investigating vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, showed a treatment effect with 95% CIs that did not include an MCID for pain.
- Systemic therapies may have little to no effect on grip strength (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.37 to 3.17; 1 study, 137 women) or on women continuing to take their AI (RR 0.16, 95% 0.01 to 2.99; 1 study, 147 women).
- The evidence suggests little to no effect on HRQoL and BCS-QoL from baseline to the end of intervention (the same single study; 44 women, both quality of life outcomes showed a treatment effect with 95% CIs that did include an MCID).
Denture stomatitis: Treatment with antimicrobial drugs or antifungal gels? A systematic review of clinical trials
Carvalho-Silva JM et al. • The Journal of prosthetic dentistry (2025)
Gels formulated with natural antimicrobials such as Z. multiflora, U. tomentosa, P. granatum, propolis, and clove and cinnamon showed higher or similar antimicrobial efficacy to conventional antifungals in the treatment of DS.
- Gels formulated with natural antimicrobials such as Z. multiflora, U. tomentosa, P. granatum, propolis, and clove and cinnamon showed higher or similar antimicrobial efficacy to conventional antifungals in the treatment of DS.
- The biocompatibility of experimental gels based on natural agents should be evaluated.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Bioactive Molecules from Tropical American Plants: Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Cytokine Storm Management
Plazas E et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2025)
These findings highlight the immense potential of bioactive compounds from tropical American plants as modulators of immune-inflammatory pathways, providing a foundation for developing effective therapeutic agents to counteract the severe effects of cytokine storms.
- Key polyphenols, like quercetin and luteolin, found in plants such as Achyrocline satureioides and Mangifera indica demonstrate the downregulation of NF-κB and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Alkaloids, such as berberine and mitraphylline, isolated from Berberis species and Uncaria tomentosa, respectively, have shown potent effects in suppressing nitric oxide production and regulating inflammasomes.
- Terpenoids, including parthenolide from Tanacetum parthenium and curcumol from Curcuma longa, exhibit multitarget activity, reducing cytokine levels and inhibiting key inflammatory enzymes like COX-2 and iNOS.
Uncaria tomentosa (Cat's Claw): A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence for Its Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activity
Ciani F, Ferraro G, Ferraro L • Journal of Herbal Medicine (2022)
Cat's claw demonstrates consistent anti-inflammatory effects through NF-kB inhibition with clinical benefits in osteoarthritis.
- Consistent NF-kB inhibition identified as primary anti-inflammatory mechanism
- Clinical trials show significant pain reduction in knee osteoarthritis
- Immunomodulatory effects support both innate and adaptive immune function
Neuroprotective Herbs for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease
Gregory J et al. • Biomolecules (2021)
It is hoped that these medicinal plants can be used in drug discovery programs for identifying safe and efficacious small molecules for AD.
- Methods-This article systematically reviews recent studies that have investigated the role of neuroprotective herbs and their bioactive compounds for dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease and pre-Alzheimer's disease.
- PubMed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases of articles were collected, and abstracts were reviewed for relevance to the subject matter.
- Conclusions-Medicinal plants have great potential as part of an overall program in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline associated with AD.
P2X7 receptor: a critical regulator and potential target for breast cancer
Zhu X et al. • Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) (2021)
This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between the P2X7 receptor and breast cancer to provide new ideas and a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
- In addition, studies have shown that microRNAs can bind to the 3' untranslated region of the P2X7 receptor, which affects the occurrence and development of breast cancer by upregulating and downregulating P2X7 receptor expression.
- Studies have shown that new P2X7 receptor inhibitors, such as emodin and Uncaria tomentosa, can inhibit P2X7 receptor-mediated breast cancer invasion and are expected to be used clinically.
- This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between the P2X7 receptor and breast cancer to provide new ideas and a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Oxindole and its derivatives: A review on recent progress in biological activities
Khetmalis YM et al. • Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2021)
All rights reserved.
- Oxindole has been shown to be a pharmacologically advantageous scaffold having many biological properties that are relevant to medicinal chemistry.
- The simplicity and widespread occurrence of this scaffold in plant-based alkaloids have further reinforced oxindole's merit in the domain of novel drug discovery.
- The role of oxindole as a chemical scaffold for fabricating and designing biological drugs agents can be ascribed to its ability to be modified by a number of chemical groups to generate novel biological functions.
Natural products for the treatment of denture stomatitis: A systematic review
Inácio Silveira DQ et al. • The Journal of prosthetic dentistry (2023)
Certainty in the body of evidence that natural products might be appropriately used in the treatment of denture stomatitis is low.
- Certainty in the body of evidence that natural products might be appropriately used in the treatment of denture stomatitis is low.
- Well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to evaluate the topic better because there is high heterogeneity among the studies.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Herbs with Special Emphasis on Herbal Medicines for Countering Inflammatory Diseases and Disorders - A Review
Yatoo MI et al. • Recent patents on inflammation & allergy drug discovery (2018)
Natural herbs are safe, effective and better options as anti-inflammatory agents than synthetic ones.
- Natural herbs are safe, effective and better options as anti-inflammatory agents than synthetic ones.
- The phytoconstituents are as effective with the comparable mechanism of action as synthetic molecules.
- Future research should focus on molecular mechanisms of different beneficial applications of these herbal plants in various diseases.
Dietary supplement interactions with antiretrovirals: a systematic review
Jalloh MA et al. • International journal of STD & AIDS (2017)
This systematic review shows the importance of screening all human immunodeficiency virus patients for dietary supplement use to prevent treatment failure or adverse effects related to an interaction.
- John's wort, vitamin C, zinc sulfate, and multivitamins were all found to significantly decrease the levels of selected antiretrovirals and should be avoided in patients taking these antiretrovirals.
- Cat's claw and evening primrose oil were found to significantly increase the levels of antiretrovirals and patients should be monitored for adverse effects while taking these dietary supplements with antiretrovirals.
- Calcium carbonate, ferrous fumarate, some forms of ginkgo, some forms of garlic, some forms of milk thistle, St.
Uncaria tomentosa
Della Valle V • Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia : organo ufficiale, Societa italiana di dermatologia e sifilografia (2017)
These results bring the strong hypothesis that U. tomentosa could be effective in the topical treatment of dermatological manifestation, namely rosacea.
- Uncaria tomentosa (U. tomentosa) or uña de gato, a species of vine of Rubiaceae family, was used from centuries in various medical conditions.
- The understanding of some specific mechanisms of molecular action leads to the demonstration of various anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and protective effects.
- These results bring the strong hypothesis that U. tomentosa could be effective in the topical treatment of dermatological manifestation, namely rosacea.
The Immunomodulatory Potential of Selected Bioactive Plant-Based Compounds in Breast Cancer: A Review
Baraya YS et al. • Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (2017)
This systematic-review examined the effects of Cat's Claw.
- Medicinal plants such as Glycyrrhiza glabra, Uncaria tomentosa, Camellia sinensis, Panax ginseng, Prunus armenaica (apricot), Allium sativum, Arctium lappa and Curcuma longa were reported to hold strong potential in breast cancer treatment in various parts of the world.
- Interestingly, research findings have shown that these plants possess bioactive immunomodulators as their main constituents producing the anticancer effects.
- These immunomodulatory compounds include ajoene, arctigenin, β-carotene, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, ginsan, glabridin and quinic acid.
Oxindole: A chemical prism carrying plethora of therapeutic benefits
Kaur M et al. • European journal of medicinal chemistry (2016)
All rights reserved.
- Oxindole has emerged as a valuable scaffold in medicinal chemistry possessing diverse range of pharmacological activities.
- Additionally, information regarding the oxindole derivatives in clinical trials has been incorporated.
- Thus, this review will provide insights for the synthetic as well as medicinal chemist for the designing and synthesis of novel oxindole derivatives with novel improved range of pharmacological implications.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS.
Bioactive Compounds from Plants Used in Peruvian Traditional Medicine
Lock O et al. • Natural product communications (2016)
For each of these plants, information about their traditional uses and current commercialization is also included.
- It is estimated that there are as many as 1400 plant species currently used in traditional Peruvian medicine; however, only a few have undergone scientific investigation.
- In this paper, we make a review of the botanical, chemical, pharmacological and clinical propierties of the most investigated Peruvian medicinal plants.
- For each of these plants, information about their traditional uses and current commercialization is also included.
Mechanisms of herb-induced nephrotoxicity
Allard T et al. • Current medicinal chemistry (2013)
Strategies to minimize nephrotoxicity include (1) quality control and standardization of herbal products, (2) research on the molecular modes of action to better understand pathophysiological mechanisms of herbal products as well as (3) clinical trials to demonstrate efficacy and safety.
- Other herbal therapies are considered to affect the rennin-angiotensisn-aldosterone (RAA) system Ephedra sinica Stapf with its ingredient ephedrine.
- Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC.
- Ex Meisn.) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) may inhibit major renal transport processes needed for filtration, secretion, and absorption.
Potential pharmacokinetic interactions between antiretrovirals and medicinal plants used as complementary and African traditional medicines
Müller AC et al. • Biopharmaceutics & drug disposition (2011)
However, several issues/concerns still remain to be addressed and thus more studies on ATMs are warranted in order for more meaningful data to be generated and the true potential for such interactions to be determined.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Other in vitro studies have shown that several African traditional medicinal (ATM) plants and extracts may also demonstrate PK interactions with ARVs, through effects on CYP3A4, P-gp and PXR.
- The most complex effects were exhibited by Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Sutherlandia frutescens, Cyphostemma hildebrandtii, Acacia nilotica, Agauria salicifolia and Elaeodendron buchananii.
- Despite a high incidence of HIV/AIDs in the African region, only one clinical study, between efavirenz and Hypoxis hemerocallidea has been conducted.
Pharmacology and therapeutic uses of cat's claw
Erowele GI et al. • American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (2009)
This systematic-review examined the effects of Cat's Claw.
- Systematic review examining Cat's Claw efficacy
- Published in American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (2009)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Cat's claw: an Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis
Hardin SR • Complementary therapies in clinical practice (2007)
The clinical relevance of this therapy as a viable modality of intervention will be discussed.
- Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianesis) is a medicinal plant from the Amazon commonly used to treat disorders such as arthritis, gastritis and osteoarthritis.
- The mechanism of cat's claw appears to be as an inhibitor of TNFalpha and antioxidant.
- Understanding the processes in osteoarthritis may facilitate and clarify the potential role of cat's claw as a complementary therapy to assist in the reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators and effectors.
Medicinal plants from Peru: a review of plants as potential agents against cancer
Gonzales GF et al. • Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (2006)
In addition, this review will discuss areas requiring future study and the inherent limitations in their experimental use as anti-cancer agents.
- An analysis of new and approved drugs for cancer by the United States Food and Drug Administration over the period of 1981-2002 showed that 62% of these cancer drugs were of natural origin.
- A number of native Andean and Amazonian medicines of plant origin are used as traditional medicine in Peru to treat different diseases.
- Against this background, we present an evidence-based analysis of the chemistry, biological properties, and anti-tumor activities for these three plant materials.