The Art of NATURE, The Art of SCIENCE
Common names | Cat’s claw, Una de gato
Scientific name | Uncaria tomentosa
Used part | Bark
Known active compounds | 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, pteropodine
Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant
Product name | Cat’s Claw-ANB
Plant Story
Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South America, especially Peru and Brazil, and Central America. It is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and derives its name from the sharp claw-shaped horns found scattered along its vine. It uses these claws to climb and can grow up to a length of 30 m. Although scientific research is limited, cat’s claw has been a traditional medicine in South America for centuries to treat a variety of ailments and is commonly taken as a dietary herbal supplement. For over 2,000 years, Peruvian native tribes believe this plant possesses magical healing power and has been used to treat asthma, cancer, cirrhosis, fevers, gastritis, diabetes, rheumatism, dysentery, and inflammation of the urinary tract.
Numerous scientific studies report a wide variety of biological activities. Recent research investigating the bioactive compounds of cat’s claw determined a high degree of proanthocyanidins, which have been previously reported to assist with many bioactive properties, such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. Cat’s claw bark is also a rich source of other phenolic compounds including hydroxybenzoic acids (benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and protocatechuic acid) and epicatechin. Anti-oxidant activity of cat’s claw bark has been analyzed by DPPH, ORAC, ABTS, and peroxyl radical trapping capacity (PRTC) assays. Cat’s claw bark is also high in alkaloids including pteropodine, isopteropodine, isomytraphylline, and ryncophylline.