R: UNCARIA TOMENTOSA (CAT’S CLAW)

Note, notthe Cat's Claw tree we have.


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The active components of cat’s claw are mainly alkaloids, glycosides (triterpenes and procyanidins), and tannins.  The oxindole alkaloids of the stem (including the hooks) are the same as those found in the Chinese plant that is far more intensively analyzed.  Rhynchophylline, the main alkaloid, has been made into a drug in China for treating hypertension and headache due to vascular constriction.  The alkaloids in the root bark of cats’ claw are in the same category as rhynchophylline, but are slightly differently.  The claim made by some investigators appears to be that these unique alkaloids are responsible for the ability of the plant to treat cancer and to inhibit viral infections.  Enhancement of phagocytosis in vitro was reported in 1985 by Wagner, a European researcher who has focused efforts on revealing immune-enhancing actions of natural products (his work with echinacea, eleutherococcus, and the liver-protective herb sylibum is frequently reported in the alternative medicine literature).  However, it is not clear that sufficient amounts of such alkaloids are consumed so that one would obtain this effect nor how strong the effect might be.  Based on his research experience, Wagner believes that polysaccharides, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polyphenolic compounds from plants have immunostimulating activity.

The triterpenoids of cat’s claw have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect.  This effect is not surprising: dozens of plants with triterpenoids have an anti-inflammatory action; triterpenoid compounds often have a steroidal structure.  Other materials have been isolated from the herb, such as oleanolic acid (which has anti-allergy actions), but the amounts are so small as to make their presence insignificant in relation to the herbal activity in clinical practice.  Clearly, one can find numerous compounds in this plant and attribute healthful activities based on in vitro tests that require large amounts of the compounds, but that doesn’t mean one is likely to obtain those effects from oral consumption of recommended amounts (e.g., 20 grams by decoction or infusion, much less by ingestion of encapsulated powders) of the crude herb.

In a patent application for use of cat’s claw alkaloids for immune-modulatory effects against cancer, other alkaloids with similar effects obtained from other plants are mentioned, such as berbamine and matrine, ingredients identified from common Chinese herbs (e.g., hu-chang and sophora) that boost certain immune responses and which can be used in the treatment of cancer (Chang and But 1987).  The question that arises is this: is it worthwhile collecting a species that has a limited growing range for which the root bark may be the key ingredient, and which is quite expensive, rather than using readily available plants that are less expensive and are already cultivated and which have far more supporting research for the intended application?  The patent application also lists more than a dozen phenols/quinones and terpenes as examples of natural substances “with stimulating effect on the immunological system.”

Cat’s claw may indeed be a good remedy for gastritis (one wouldn’t be able to determine that from the current literature, however: gastritis isn’t as interesting as cancer and AIDS).  Herbal therapies for gastritis are relatively easy for native herbalists to select, because the effects are usually prompt.  There are hundreds of other gastritis remedies available; its just a matter of whether or not the gastritis sufferer will try them.  If the first they try is cat’s claw, it may well be one they can say works for them.
<<http://www.itmonline.org/arts/catsclaw.htm