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Peruvian Cat's Claw (Uña de Gato) bark (Uncaria tomentosa) Rainforest

Actions: Deep immune activator, tonic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, hypotensive, cardiac tonic.

Common Use: This amazing vine from the Peruvian rain forest is offered in Peruvian pharmacies. A sixty-foot jungle vine found throughout South America, Cat’s Claw, named for the curved spines found on young branches, is used in the Peruvian Amazon to treat arthritis, diabetes, and inflammatory disorders3. Recently, Uña de Gato has become popular around the world in the treatment of cancer and immune system related diseases1, 2. Renowned anti-inflammatory, our liquid extracts can be felt in five minutes. 15 to 30 drops 2-3 daily. Do not use with anti-ulcer medications. Not recommended if pregnant or nursing.

 

liquid herbal extractSuggested retail:
2oz with dropper - $16
4oz with dropper - $29
8oz  w/o dropper - $54

Formulas containing this herb:

Rene Caisse (essiac) w/ Cat's Claw
Cat's Claw / Astragalus / Reishi
Cat's Claw / Pau d' Arco Plus
Devil's Claw / Cat's Claw Plus
Immun-Essence Plus
Laxa-Tonic Plus
Venus Flytrap / Cat's Claw

“Uncaria tomentosa, also known as cat’s claw, an herb from the highlands of the Peruvian Amazon, has been used by natives for hundreds of years to treat immunologic and digestive disorders. Research began in the 1970s to discover the benefits of this plant in relieving symptoms of cancers, arthritis, and other ailments. It has the ability to cleanse the digestive tract, aiding victims of Crohn’s, colitis, gastritis and more. In a 1989 study by Klaus Keplinger, several alkaloid oxidants found in the plant’s roots showed an ability to stimulate the immune system. The principal alkaloids are isopteropodine and rynchophyiline. Extracts of cat’s claw mixed with AZT in an experimental drug, called Krallendom, were effective in reducing symptoms in AIDS patients in Austria. The plant has been useful in reducing secondary effects of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer victims as well.”
Steinberg PN
Sidahora. 1995 Apr-May;:35-6.

1. An extract of Uncaria tomentosa inhibiting cell division and NF-kappa B activity without inducing cell death.
Akesson C, Lindgren H, Pero RW, Leanderson T, Ivars F.
Section for Immunology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, BMC I:13, Lund University, Lund, SE-221 84, Sweden.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2003 Dec;3(13-14):1889-900.
PMID: 14636838 [PubMed - in process]

2. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in human tumor cells treated with extracts of Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Pero RW, Amiri A, Bryngelsson C.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Anticancer Res. 1998 Sep-Oct;18(5A):3363-8
PMID: 9858909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Antiinflammatory actions of cat’s claw: the role of NF-kappaB.
Sandoval-Chacon M, Thompson JH, Zhang XJ, Liu X, Mannick EE, Sadowska-Krowicka H, Charbonnet RM, Clark DA, Miller MJ.
LSU Medical Center, Department of Paediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1998 Dec;12(12):1279-89.
PMID: 9882039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. Cat’s claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotection.
Sandoval M, Charbonnet RM, Okuhama NN, Roberts J, Krenova Z, Trentacosti AM, Miller MJ.
Department of Pediatrics and Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. sandovm@mail.amc.edu
Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jul 1;29(1):71-8
PMID: 10962207 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Dietary antioxidants protect gut epithelial cells from oxidant-induced apoptosis.
Miller MJ, Angeles FM, Reuter BK, Bobrowski P, Sandoval M.
Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA. millermj@mail.amc.edu
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1(1):11. Epub 2001 Dec 10
PMID: 11749672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study.
Sheng Y, Li L, Holmgren K, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section of Tumor and Immune Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Phytomedicine. 2001 Jul;8(4):275-82
PMID: 11515717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7. Effects of Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloid and its components on experimental amnesia in mice: elucidation using the passive avoidance test.
Mohamed AF, Matsumoto K, Tabata K, Takayama H, Kitajima M, Watanabe H.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
PMID: 11197086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8. Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Bryngelsson C, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. yezhou.sheng@wblab.lu.se
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):115-26.
PMID: 10687868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Treatment of chemotherapy-induced leukopenia in a rat model with aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Pero RW, Wagner H.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):137-43.
PMID: 10839217 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10. Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100.
Lamm S, Sheng Y, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section of Tumor and Immune Biology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Phytomedicine. 2001 Jul;8(4):267-74
PMID: 11515716 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11. In vitro Effects of Two Extracts and Two Pure Alkaloid Preparations of Uncaria tomentosa on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.
Winkler C, Wirleitner B, Schroecksnadel K, Schennach H, Mur E, Fuchs D.
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Planta Med. 2004 Mar;70(3):205-10.
PMID: 15114496 [PubMed - in process]

1. An extract of Uncaria tomentosa inhibiting cell division and NF-kappa B activity without inducing cell death.
Akesson C, Lindgren H, Pero RW, Leanderson T, Ivars F.
Section for Immunology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, BMC I:13, Lund University, Lund, SE-221 84, Sweden.
Int Immunopharmacol. 2003 Dec;3(13-14):1889-900.
Previous reports have demonstrated that extracts of the plant Uncaria tomentosa inhibit tumor cell proliferation and inflammatory responses. We have confirmed that C-Med 100, a hot water extract of this plant, inhibits tumor cell proliferation albeit with variable efficiency. We extend these findings by showing that this extract also inhibits proliferation of normal mouse T and B lymphocytes and that the inhibition is not caused by toxicity or by induction of apoptosis. Further, the extract did not interfere with IL-2 production nor IL-2 receptor signaling. Since there was no discrete cell cycle block in C-Med 100-treated cells, we propose that retarded cell cycle progression caused the inhibition of proliferation. Collectively, these data suggested interference with a common pathway controlling cell growth and cell cycle progression. Indeed, we provide direct evidence that C-Med 100 inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity and propose that this at least partially causes the inhibition of proliferation.
PMID: 14636838 [PubMed - in process]

2. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation in human tumor cells treated with extracts of Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Pero RW, Amiri A, Bryngelsson C.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Anticancer Res. 1998 Sep-Oct;18(5A):3363-8
Growth inhibitory activities of novel water extracts of Uncaria tomentosa (C-Med-100) were examined in vitro using two human leukemic cell lines (K562 and HL60) and one human EBV-transformed B lymphoma cell line (Raji). The proliferative capacities of HL60 and Raji cells were strongly suppressed in the presence of the C-Med-100 while K562 was more resistant to the inhibition. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect was confirmed using the clonogenic assay, which showed a very close correlation between C-Med-100 concentration and the surviving fraction. The suppressive effect of Uncaria tomentosa extracts on tumor cell growth appears to be mediated through induction of apoptosis which was demonstrated by characteristic morphological changes, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation after agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA fragmentation quantification. C-Med-100 induced a delayed type of apoptosis becoming most dose-dependently prominent after 48 hours of exposure. Both DNA single and double strand breaks were increased 24 hours after C-Med-100 treatment, which suggested a well-established linkage between the DNA damage and apoptosis. The induction of DNA strand breaks coupled to apoptosis may explain the growth inhibition of the tumor cells by Uncaria tomentosa extracts. These results provide the first direct evidence for the antitumor properties of Uncaria tomentosa extracts to be via a mechanism of selective induction of apoptosis.
PMID: 9858909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3. Antiinflammatory actions of cat’s claw: the role of NF-kappaB.
Sandoval-Chacon M, Thompson JH, Zhang XJ, Liu X, Mannick EE, Sadowska-Krowicka H, Charbonnet RM, Clark DA, Miller MJ.
LSU Medical Center, Department of Paediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1998 Dec;12(12):1279-89.
BACKGROUND: Uncaria tomentosa is a vine commonly known as cat’s claw or ‘una de gato’ (UG) and is used in traditional Peruvian medicine for the treatment of a wide range of health problems, particularly digestive complaints and arthritis. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the proposed anti-inflammatory properties of cat’s claw. Specifically: (i) does a bark extract of cat’s claw protect against oxidant-induced stress in vitro, and (ii) to determine if UG modifies transcriptionally regulated events. METHODS: Cell death was determined in two cell lines, RAW 264.7 and HT29 in response to peroxynitrite (PN, 300 microM). Gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in HT29 cells, direct effects on nitric oxide and peroxynitrite levels, and activation of NF-kappaB in RAW 264.7 cells as influenced by UG were assessed. Chronic intestinal inflammation was induced in rats with indomethacin (7.5 mg/kg), with UG administered orally in the drinking water (5 mg/mL). RESULTS: The administration of UG (100 microg/mL) attenuated (P < 0.05) peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis in HT29 (epithelial) and RAW 264.7 cells (macrophage). Cat’s claw inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced iNOS gene expression, nitrite formation, cell death and inhibited the activation of NF-kappaB. Cat’s claw markedly attenuated indomethacin-enteritis as evident by reduced myeloperoxidase activity, morphometric damage and liver metallothionein expression. 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.
PMID: 9882039 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4. Cat’s claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotection.
Sandoval M, Charbonnet RM, Okuhama NN, Roberts J, Krenova Z, Trentacosti AM, Miller MJ.
Department of Pediatrics and Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. sandovm@mail.amc.edu
Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jul 1;29(1):71-8
Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a medicinal plant from the Amazon River basin that is widely used for inflammatory disorders and was previously described as an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. Cat’s claw was prepared as a decoction (water extraction) of micropulverized bark with and without concentration by freeze-drying. Murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) were used in cytotoxicity assays (trypan blue exclusion) in response to the free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH, 0.3 microM) and ultraviolet light (UV) light. TNFalpha production was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS 0.5 microg/ml). Cat’s claw was an effective scavenger of DPPH; the EC(50) value for freeze-dried concentrates was significantly less than micropulverized (18 vs. 150 microg/ml, p <.05). Cat’s claw (10 microg/ml freeze-dried) was fully protective against DPPH and UV irradiation-induced cytotoxicity. LPS increased TNFalpha media levels from 3 to 97 ng/ml. Cat’s claw suppressed TNFalpha production by approximately 65-85% (p <.01) but at concentrations considerably lower than its antioxidant activity: freeze-dried EC(50) = 1.2 ng/ml, micropulverized EC(50) = 28 ng/ml. In conclusion, cat’s claw is an effective antioxidant, but perhaps more importantly a remarkably potent inhibitor of TNFalpha production. The primary mechanism for cat’s claw anti-inflammatory actions appears to be immunomodulation via suppression of TNFalpha synthesis.
PMID: 10962207 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5. Dietary antioxidants protect gut epithelial cells from oxidant-induced apoptosis.
Miller MJ, Angeles FM, Reuter BK, Bobrowski P, Sandoval M.
Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA. millermj@mail.amc.edu
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1(1):11. Epub 2001 Dec 10
BACKGROUND: The potential of ascorbic acid and two botanical decoctions, green tea and cat’s claw, to limit cell death in response to oxidants were evaluated in vitro. METHODS: Cultured human gastric epithelial cells (AGS) or murine small intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-18) were exposed to oxidants - DPPH (3 microM), H2O2 (50 microM), peroxynitrite (300 microM) - followed by incubation for 24 hours, with antioxidants (10 microg/ml) administered as a 1 hour pretreatment. Cell number (MTT assay) and death via apoptosis or necrosis (ELISA, LDH release) was determined. The direct interactions between antioxidants and DPPH (100 microM) or H2O2 (50 microM) were evaluated by spectroscopy. RESULTS: The decoctions did not interact with H2O2, but quenched DPPH although less effectively than vitamin C. In contrast, vitamin C was significantly less effective in protecting human gastric epithelial cells (AGS) from apoptosis induced by DPPH, peroxynitrite and H2O2 (P < 0.001). Green tea and cat’s claw were equally protective against peroxynitrite and H2O2, but green tea was more effective than cat’s claw in reducing DPPH-induced apoptosis (P < 0.01). Necrotic cell death was marginally evident at these low concentrations of peroxynitrite and H2O2, and was attenuated both by cat’s claw and green tea (P < 0.01). In IEC-18 cells, all antioxidants were equally effective as anti-apoptotic agents. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that dietary antioxidants can limit epithelial cell death in response to oxidant stress. In the case of green tea and cat’s claw, the cytoprotective response exceed their inherent ability to interact with the injurious oxidant, suggestive of actions on intracellular pathways regulating cell death.
PMID: 11749672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study.
Sheng Y, Li L, Holmgren K, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section of Tumor and Immune Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Phytomedicine. 2001 Jul;8(4):275-82
The Uncaria tomentosa water extracts (C-Med-100) have been shown to enhance DNA repair, mitogenic response and leukocyte recovery after chemotherapy-induced DNA damage in vivo. In this study, the effect of C-Med-100 supplement was evaluated in a human volunteer study. Twelve apparently healthy adults working in the same environment were randomly assigned into 3 groups with age and gender matched. One group was daily supplemented with a 250 mg tablet containing an aqueous extract of Uncaria tomentosa of C-Med-100, and another group with a 350 mg tablet, for 8 consecutive weeks. DNA repair after induction of DNA damage by a standard dose of hydrogen peroxide was measured 3 times before supplement and 3 times after the supplement for the last 3 weeks of the 8 week-supplement period. There were no drug-related toxic responses to C-Med-100 supplement when judged in terms of clinical symptoms, serum clinical chemistry, whole blood analysis and leukocyte differential counts. There was a statistically significant decrease of DNA damage and a concomitant increase of DNA repair in the supplement groups (250 and 350 mg/day) when compared with non-supplemented controls (p < 0.05). There was also an increased tendency of PHA induced lymphocyte proliferation in the treatment groups. Taken together, this trial has confirmed the earlier results obtained in the rat model when estimating DNA repair enhancement by C-Med-100.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 11515717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7. Effects of Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloid and its components on experimental amnesia in mice: elucidation using the passive avoidance test.
Mohamed AF, Matsumoto K, Tabata K, Takayama H, Kitajima M, Watanabe H.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
The effects of Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloid and its oxindole alkaloid components, uncarine E, uncarine C, mitraphylline, rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline, on the impairment of retention performance caused by amnesic drugs were investigated using a step-down-type passive avoidance test in mice. In this test, the retention performance of animals treated with the amnesic and test drugs before training was assessed 24 h after training. Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloid (10-20 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and the alkaloid components (10-40 mg kg(-1), i.p.), as well as the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine (0.01 mg kg(-1), i.p.), significantly attenuated the deficit in retention performance induced by the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine (3 mg kg(-1), i.p.). The effective doses of uncarine C and mitraphylline were larger than those of other alkaloid components. Uncarine E (20 mg kg(-1), i.p.) also blocked the impairment of passive avoidance performance caused by the nicotinic receptor antagonist mecamylamine (15 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (+/-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP; 7.5 mg kg(-1), i.p.), but it failed to affect the deficit caused by the benzodiazepine receptor agonist diazepam (2 mg kg(-1), i.p.). Rhynchophylline significantly reduced the mecamylamine-induced deficit in passive avoidance behaviour, but it failed to attenuate the effects of CPP and diazepam. These results suggest that Uncaria tomentosa total alkaloids exert a beneficial effect on memory impairment induced by the dysfunction of cholinergic systems in the brain and that the effect of the total alkaloids is partly attributed to the oxindole alkaloids tested. Moreover, these findings raised the possibility that the glutamatergic systems are implicated in the anti-amnesic effect of uncarine E.
PMID: 11197086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8. Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Bryngelsson C, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. yezhou.sheng@wblab.lu.se
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Feb;69(2):115-26.
Female W/Fu rats were gavaged daily with a water-soluble extract (C-MED-100) of Uncaria tomentosa supplied commercially by CampaMed at the doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg for 8 consecutive weeks. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was significantly increased in splenocytes of rats treated at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg. White blood cells (WBC) from the C-MED-100 treatment groups of 40 and 80 mg/kg for 8 weeks or 160 mg/kg for 4 weeks were significantly elevated compared with controls (P < 0.05). In a human volunteer study, C-MED-100 was given daily at 5 mg/kg for 6 consecutive weeks to four healthy adult males. No toxicity was observed and again, WBC were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) after supplement. Repair of DNA single strand breaks (SSB) and double strand breaks (DSB) 3 h after 12 Gy whole body irradiation of rats were also significantly improved in C-MED-100 treated animals (P < 0.05). The LD50 and MTD of a single oral dose of C-MED-100 in the rat were observed to be greater than 8 g/kg. Although the rats were treated daily with U. tomentosa extracts at the doses of 10-80 mg/kg for 8 weeks or 160 mg/kg for 4 weeks, no acute or chronic toxicity signs were observed symptomatically. In addition, no body weight, food consumption, organ weight and kidney, liver, spleen, and heart pathological changes were found to be associated with C-MED-100 treatment.
PMID: 10687868 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Treatment of chemotherapy-induced leukopenia in a rat model with aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa.
Sheng Y, Pero RW, Wagner H.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Lund, Sweden. Yezhou.Sheng@wblab.lu.se
Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):137-43.
The Uncaria tomentosa water extracts (C-Med-100) depleted of indole alkaloids (< 0.05%, w/w) have been shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in tumor cells in vitro and to enhance DNA repair, mitogenic response and white blood cells in vivo. In this study, the effect of C-Med-100 in the treatment of chemically induced leukopenia was evaluated in a rat model. W/Fu rats were treated first with doxorubicin (DXR) 2 mg/kg x 3 (i.p. injection at 24 hour-intervals) to induce leukopenia. Twenty-four hours after the last DXR treatment, the rats were daily gavaged with C-Med-100 for 16 consecutive days. As a positive control, Neupogen, a granulocyte colony stimulator was also administered by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 5 and 10 microg/ml for 10 consecutive days. The results showed that both C-Med-100 and Neupogen treatment groups recovered significantly sooner (p < 0.05 by Duncan test) than DXR group. However, the recovery by C-Med-100 treatment was a more natural process than Neupogen because all fractions of white blood cells were proportionally increased while Neupogen mainly elevated the neutrophil cells. These results were also confirmed by microscopic examination of the blood smears. The mechanism of the C-Med-100 effect on WBC is not known but other data showing enhanced effects on DNA repair and immune cell proliferative response support a general immune enhancement.
PMID: 10839217 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

10. Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100.
Lamm S, Sheng Y, Pero RW.
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Section of Tumor and Immune Biology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Phytomedicine. 2001 Jul;8(4):267-74
A human intervention study was carri ed out using male volunteers attending a General Practice Clinic in New York City involving comparison of individuals supplemented with 350 mg x 2 C-Med-100 daily dose for two months with untreated controls for their abilities to respond to a 23 valent pneumococcal vaccine. C-Med-100 is a novel nutraceutical extract from the South American plant Uncaria tomentosa or Cat’s Claw which is known to possess immune enhancing and antiinflammatory properties in animals. There were no toxic side effects observed as judged by medical examination, clinical chemistry and blood cell analysis. However, statistically significant immune enhancement for the individuals on C-Med-100 supplement was observed by (i) an elevation in the lymphocyte/neutrophil ratios of peripheral blood and (ii) a reduced decay in the 12 serotype antibody titer responses to pneumococcal vaccination at 5 months.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 11515716 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11. In vitro Effects of Two Extracts and Two Pure Alkaloid Preparations of Uncaria tomentosa on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.
Winkler C, Wirleitner B, Schroecksnadel K, Schennach H, Mur E, Fuchs D.
Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Planta Med. 2004 Mar;70(3):205-10.
In the traditional Peruvian medicine, hot aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa have been used for the treatment of a wide range of health problems, particularly digestive complaints and arthritis. Some of the beneficial effects observed in patients suggest an immunomodulatory capacity of Uncaria tomentosa extracts. In this study, the effects of two extracts and two mixtures of tetracyclic and pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids of Uncaria tomentosa were investigated in freshly isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro. Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation were monitored in culture supernatants to determine the effects of the test substances on immunobiochemical pathways induced by interferon-gamma. Compared to unstimulated cells PHA and Con A increased the production of neopterin and degradation of tryptophan (p < 0.01). HCl and ethanol extracts and mixtures of alkaloids of Uncaria tomentosa inhibited both effects in a dose-dependent manner, the lowest effective concentrations of the extracts were 500 - 1000 microg/mL and of the alkaloid mixtures 100 - 175 microg/mL (p < 0.05 and < 0.01). With the highest concentrations of extracts and mixtures complete suppression of mitogen-induced neopterin production and tryptophan degradation was observed. These data demonstrate that Uncaria tomentosa extracts and mixtures of alkaloids modulate the immunobiochemical pathways induced by interferon-gamma. The findings imply a potential application of the extracts as immunoregulators and would be in line with observations in patients using these extracts. Abbreviations. Con A:concanavalin A EDTA:ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Titriplex III IDO:indoleamine (2,3)-dioxygenase IFN-gamma:interferon-gamma kyn:kynurenine MTT:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide PBMC:peripheral blood mononuclear cells PHA:phytohaemagglutinin POA:pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids ROS:reactive oxygen species TOA:tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids trp:tryptophan
PMID: 15114496 [PubMed - in process]
1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6
Single Extracts

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American Ginseng
Angelica
Ashwagandha
Astragalus
Atractylodes
Barberry
Bee Pollen
Bilberry fruit
Black Cohosh
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Bladderwrack
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Privet fruit
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Violet leaf
Vitex berry
Wahoo root bark
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The information presented here is not intended to diagnose any disease or condition or prescribe any treatment. It is offered as information only, for use in the maintenance and promotion of good health in cooperation with a licensed medical practitioner. In the event that any individual should use the information presented on this website without a licensed medical practitioner's approval, that individual will be diagnosing for him or herself. No responsibility is assumed by the author, publisher or distributors of this information should the information be used in place of a licensed medical practioner's services. No guarantees of any kind are made for the performance or effectiveness of the preparations mentioned on this website.

Furthermore, this information is to be used for educational purposes only and has been based solely on the traditional and historic use of a given herb, or on clinical trials that are generally not recognized by any US government agency or medical organization. This information has not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration, nor has it gone through the rigorous double-blind studies required before a particular product can be deemed truly beneficial or potentially dangerous and prescribed in the treatment of any condition or disease.