Immune System Herb*
$14.95
Catsclawtea
1 - jar, 175 grams (makes 525 cups)
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A rain-forest herb traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating natural medicine. Ground from the inner bark, when brewed Cat's Claw Tea provides a water extract of the plant's alkaloids, sterols, glycosides, procyanidins and other plant factors that are beleived to act as a tonic to balance and enhance the immune system's ability to fight viruses, bacteria, intestinal parasites, and are reported to also have anticancer properties via immune system stimulation.

Suggested Use:
Drink 1-3 cups per day on empty stomach

To Brew Tea: bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add 1-2 teaspoons ground, simmer for 20 minutes, strain and drink when cooled to desired temperature.

DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR NURSING

* This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA.

REFERENCES FOR THIS MONGRAPH

Agüero J. Gottardo, Indacochea Victor, AgüeroSanchez Fabiola: Contribución al estudio de la planta Uncaria tomentosa Uña de gato, como inmuno-estimulante.

Asociación de Médicos Cesantes y jubilados del MINSA. Lima-Perú 1996

Brack Egg, Antonio: Diccionario enciclopédico de plantas útiles del Perú. Cusco-Perú. 1999.

Font Quer P. 1985 Plantas medicinales . El Dioscórides renovado. Ed. Labor S.A. Barcelona.

Montenegro de Matta, Soledad : Alcaloids and Procyanidins of Uncaria sp from Perú. Departamento de Farmacología. UNMSM Lima-Perú. 1976.

Montesinos Fernando A, Fuentes Flor. Aspectos fisicoquímicos, farmacológico y terapéutico de la Uncaria tomentosa (Willd)DC. Uña de gato. Lima-Perú, Marzo 1995

Obregón Vilches, Lida: Uña de Gato , Género Uncaria, Estudios Botánicos, Químicos y farmacológicos de la Uncaria Tomentosa y la Uncaria guianenesis, Instituto de Fitoterapia americano. Tercera edición . Lima-Perú 1995.

Peralta Miriam E.,Zambrano Flores H,: "Efecto antiinflamatorio del extracto glicosídico de Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC. Uña de gato, UNMSM Lima-Perú 1992.

Rengifo R. Diana, Albino Gómez ,: Estudio del efecto antiinflamatorio de varias muestras de Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC Uña de Gato de venta en el mercado, UNMSM Lima-Perú.

Wagner H, Kreutzkamp B.,Jurcic K, Keplinger Klaus,: The alcaloids of Uncaria tomentosa and their Phagocytosis Stimulating Action. Plant. Med. (PQF) 1985.

Urrunaga S.R. : Uncaria tomentosa Uña de gato:Un recurso fitogenético valioso en el Perú. Ponencia. Forum Nacional sobre la Uña de gato. Pucallpa 15 pp. S/p.

Zolezzi O.: Manejo extenso, comercialización interna y exportación de la uña de gato Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis, 9pp.

SYNONYM

Also known as:

• Aculeate nauclea HBK
• Willd N. Tomentosa ex R & S
• Tomentosa Ourouparia (Willd. Ex R & S) Schum

COMMON NAMES

Garabato, Rangaya, Unganangui, yellow Garabato, Tua juncara, Water Bejuco, Samento (Ashánika), Kug Kukjaqui (Aguaruna, Huambisa, Jibaros), Paotati-mosha (Shipibo-Conibo), Gatura, Gatuna, Toront, Tambo huasca, ox tooth, Willca Cora (sacred plant), Garabato casha.

PARTS USED

Bark of the root and stalk, leaves.

HISTORY

Members of the amazonic jungle tribes have used it for hundreds of years. Cooked bark and root are used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and neoplasie and in high dosages, it is also used as a contraceptive. The botanists consider Uncaria tomentosa, a widely studied plant, as original from the tropics of South America. Wagner et al showed in 1985 that it possesses stimulating action in the phagocytosis. Aquino and De Simone confirmed in 1989 its antiviral action through in-vitro studies.

DESCRIPTION

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C., known commonly as catís claw, is a large climbing shrub (approximately 20 meters high), belonging to the Rubiaceae family. The young branches have asquare shape. The branches have strong, 2 cm. long by 0.4 cmto 0.6 cm wide, woody thorns that point down, not entwined. Its fruits are brownish and fuzzy, the first leaves are reddish. It has two growing stages, in its first year it goes through the first stage, being a grassy plant, climbing but not helicoidal (it supports itself to other plants by means of its "claws" only). The claws are in clusters of three and born in the base of the leaves (bud). These claws begin to surge when the roots, in form of a rhizome have stored sufficient quantities of moisture and nutrients to survive in a warm environment. At this time the leaves have a short life span, they are oblong, but wide enough to have an elliptic shape, from 6 to 12 cm long. Here the claws are considered unicidulade acillars earrings in number of three and are similar to a cat¥s claw. After the second or third year, the plant becomes woody and the trunk shows a characteristic twisted appearance.

This species grows forming frequent entangled vines in the thickness of the jungle, thus first described as Nauclea aculeata HBK, with more than 60 species (J. Soukup), growing in the edge of the high Amazon (high forests with abundant sunlight between 300 and 800 m.a.s.l. in the Perené valley, the Paucartambo rivers and in the Salt Hill) .

According to some authors, there are three varieties of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C., but have no major differences between one another. These differences can be observed looking at the color of the recently cut bark and the color of the root. This way we can distinguish the three kinds, according to the color of fresh Liber (milky fiber), with gray ñwhitish, brown- yellowish and dark red.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

TRUNK: Clearly distinguished by the pink color of its bark. Its bark can be yellowish when it is fresh; golden reddish yellow when it is dry.

LEAVES: The primary ones are reddish, of short duration, with an oblong shape, so wide that it can be called elliptic, measuring from 6 to 12 centimeters in length, simple, of opposite disposition and with stipules of varied aspect that can be velvety and sometimes fuse each other. Sometimes they reach the same size as the older leaves forming "foliate verticiles". The claws born in the base of the leaves are considered "unicidulade acilary" earrings, similar to a catís claw. The topside is opaque, dark yellowish green and the underside is fuzzy or with a venous appearance, oblong and a membranous flat surface.

FLOWERS: Hermaphrodite, fragrant, they can be "sessiles" or "peduncle", solitary or grouped in clusters, forming "capilated" inflorescence. The flowers are actinomorphes in the first period and then cigomorphes. Tubular chalice or toothed infundibuliform . Smooth/hairless corolla, with four or five white lobules, obtuse, very fuzzy. The stamen is inserted in the throat of the corolla Genie with infero ovary, bilocular, bicarpelar, multiovular.

FRUIT: Brownish color, fuzzy and dry, 3,5 to 4 centimeters long, fusiform, bivalve.The seeds have meaty albumen, cartilaginous or corneous, sometimes rudimentary or reduced in size.

POPULAR USES

• Inflammatory processes of different kinds in organs and/or systems: arthritis (indistinctly without any specific classification), dermis inflammations as well as in the urinary tract.
• Asthma
• Contraceptive
• Diabetes
• Various tumors
• Degenerative diseases: cancer (e.g. of the female genital tract, Bronco pulmonary and/or of the gastric tract)
• Viral processes
• Irregularities of the menstrual cycle
• Convalescence and general weakness
• Gonorrhea
• Dysentery
• Gastrointestinal disorders stomach and duodenal ulcers
• Allergies

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

ALKALOIDS

As summarized in the following research papers:

1. Raymond-Hamet M. Reported in Uncaria guianensis (Aubl) Gmel (1952)

• Rhynchophylline

1. Philipson et al detected in a study made in Rubiaceas (1974)

• Angustine

1. Philipson and Hemingway in 1975 examined samples of Uncaria tomentosa and guisanensis observing that both presented similar alkaloids.

The main oxindolic alkaloids detected were

• Rhyncophylline
• Isorhynchophylline

Secondary alkaloids

• Mitraphylline
• Hirsuteine
• Hirsutine
• Dihydrocorynantheine

Also in Uncaria tomentosa

• Isomitraphylline
• Dihydrocorynantheine-N-Oxide
• Hirsutine-N-Oxide

1. Soledad Montenegro, F. Delle Monache et al of San Marcos University Lima-Perú and Catolica University from S. Cuore of Roma (1976) studied alkaloids and procianidines in Uncaria sp. The results were:

Alkaloids:

• Pteropodine
• Speciophylline
• Isopteropodine
• Uncarine
• Isomitraphylline

Polyphenolic constituents (antitumoral verified by Olivera et al)

• Epicathechin
• Procianidines (4 procianides diméricas A1, B1, B2, B4)
1. Lavault, C. Moretti and J. Bruneton (1983) of Angers France studied Uncaria sp

From the leaves:

• Rhyncophylline
• Isorhynchophylline

From the root:

• Pteropodine
• Especiophylline
• Mitraphylline, all the alkaloids of the oxindol group.

1. H. Wagner, B. Kreutzcamp and K. Jurcic, (Munich ñ1985) determine the following alkaloids:

• Isopteropodine (of higher concentration)
• Pteropodine (and its isomeres Especiofilina and Uncaria E)
• Mitraphylline
• Isomitraphyline
• Rhynchophylline
• Rhynchophylline and Isorhynchophylline

They assumed, also that crop time and the consequent chemical changes could be one of the reasons for the variation in the composition of similar samples of Uncaria.

QUINOVIC ACID, GLYCOSIDES, TRYPTERPHENES AND ESTEROIDAL FRACTIONS

The glycosides of quinovic acid have common structural characteristic. The "aglicon" is the quinovic acid that has hydroxi group in C-3, an unsaturated bond (C-C) in C-12 and two carboxyle groups in C-27 and C-28. The carbohydrate part is joined through oxygen in C-3, conforming the true glycoside, while that of the carboxyles C-27 and C-28 form sters with carbohydrate units.

Following, we detail the summary of the research that indicate the presence of these compounds of Uncaria tomentosa:

1. R. Cerri and R. Aquino, et al. (1988); isolated and identified three new glycosides:

From quinovic acid 1, 2 and 3.

• The glycoside 1 has a joined glucose with an ester link in C-27.
• The glycoside 2 has an additional glucose linked to C-28
• The glycoside 3 includes a fraction of quinovic acid and a disaccharide fraction joined to C3 of aglicon

1. F. P. Laccarino (1988) reported on the isolation of six new quinovic acid glycosides in a chloroform / methanol 9:1 of Uncaria tomentosa, then identified three new polyoxigenated tryptophenes.

• Acid 3b, 6 b, 19-trihidroxi-12 in 28-oico.
• Acid 3b , 6b , 19-trihidroxi- 23* oxo-urs ñ 12 in 28 oico
• Acid 3b, 6b, 19-trihidroxi-24 isomethylene-23-nor urs- 12 in 28 oico

1. R. Aquino, F. De Simone (1989) reported 3 additional glycosides identified like:

• Glycoside 4 (presence of quinovosa, more active)
• Glycoside 5 (presence of fucose)
• Glycoside 6 (presents two units of glucose and the free carboxile group in C-27)

(The three most widely known are the glycosides 1, 2 and 3)

1. A. Senatore, A. Cataldo, F. P. Laccarino, M.G. Elberti, Napoles-Italia, inform that studying the steroid fraction obtained from the bark of this plant detect the presence of:

• b - sitosterol (main sterol)
• Campestrol
• Stigmasterol
• Traces of cholesterol

1. R. Aquino, F. De Simone et al (1990) studying new trypterphene polyhydroxilates of Uncaria tomentosa, isolated three new trypterphenes, defined them as structures 1, 2 and 3, their structures being as follows:

• Acid 3b , 6b , 19a trihidroxiuros ñ 12 in 28 oico.
• Acid 3b , 6b , 19a trihidroxi-23- oxo ñ uros ñ 12 ñ in 28- oico
• Acid 23- nor ñ 24 esometilen 3b , 6b , 19a -trihidroxiuros ñ 12- in 28 oico.

1. R. Aquino et al (1991) published "Plant Metabolites New compounds and anti-inflammatory activity of Uncaria tomentosa" isolated and identified two new quinovic acid glycosides:

• Glycoside 7, (glycosidation pattern C-3, C-27 e isomere of glycoside 4)
• Glycoside 9

They identify a new trypthene:

• Trypthene 8

A new alkaloid:

• 5 a carboxiestricdosina

Other compounds:

• Ursolic acid
• Oleanolic acid

1. Miriam Peralta, Hernan Zambrano (1992) Lima-Peru, identify:

• Steroids
• Trypterphenoids
• Flavonoids
• Phenolic compounds
• Saponins
• Tannins

PHARMACOLOGY

Numerous studies of Uncaria tomentosa have been conducted worldwide, more so in the 80s, primarily in Italy, Austria and Peru and show that this is a species with mainly antiinflammatory and immune stimulant properties, although the final conclusions about responsible metabolites or the active compounds have yet to be identified.

1. Soledad Montenegro, F. Delle Monache et al of San Marcos University ñ Lima- Peru and the Catolica University of S. Cuore in Rome (1976) studied alkaloid and Procianidines in Uncaria sp, isolating Pteropodine for pharmacological tests as the main alkaloid, using doses of 6.8, 3.4 and 1.7 mg/kg produced in mice:

• Ataxia
• Alterations of the striated muscular reflex
• Significant Antipyretic effect.
• Ethanolic raw extract of Pteropina did not show any specific inhibitory action on tumoral cells in vitro or in vivo.

1. H. Wagner, R. Kreutzkamp and K. Jurcic in Munich, Germany researched the ethyl acetate extracts, after alkalinization, ethanol extracts and its fractions ethyl acetate and watery macerates from the roots of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C., identifying the alkaloid fraction as the group of active substance.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficiency of the extract of the vegetal specie Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC, depends on the presence of three important factors:

• Concentration of alkaloid
• Alkaloid compounds present
• Presence of additional substances

Half values of anti-inflammatory efficiency

(expressed in average)

Time in minutes	Extract 1	Extract 2	Extract 3	Indo- methacine	Piroxicam	Dexametasona
30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300	31,6 75,6 81,8 91,3 95,3 94,5 91,1 89,4 78,8 59,5	7,6 58,3 77,1 84,3 93,4 95,4 96,4 94,8 91,4 85,0	45,2 70,4 81,2 93,3 98,0 98,6 98,4 93,4 86,2 75,4	49,5 73,7 79,4 85,0 93,0 86,8 85,6 76,9 68,2 60,7	33,6 68,5 75,1 81,1 89,5 76,3 74,6 77,2 70,9 71,1	52,3 69,7 77,5 84,2 91,5 75,4 75,6 70,3 60,3 54,9
	81,1	81,1	87,2	77,0	72,5	72

Source: (7)

 

As can be appreciated in the above table, the glycosidic extracts reported 83,3 % of anti-inflammatory efficiency with a doses of 0,11 mg/kg of weight versus the controls that showed an inhibition average of 73,9%, allowing us to conclude that the glycosidic extracts of catís claw used at the most common levels, is effective in the anti-inflammatory processes.

Similar studies made Rengifo D. And Albino E. showed a higher effectiveness of lyophilized products (36,8%) and atomized (35,8%) than the micropulverized (28,3%), No differences were apparent between the first two presentations

 

1. R. Aquino, F. De Simone (1989) studied the chemical structure and in vitro pharmacological actions of non-alkaloid constituents extracted from the of Uncaria Tomentosa (Wild) DC bark, starting from previous descriptions of diverse biological activities of triterpenoid saponins, bearing in mind the discovery of the inhibitory action of the multiplication of specific DNA virals by some of these chemical groups (glycoside glicirrina, glicirretinic acid, etc). They made new tests with larger samples of this plant than they previously used, finding three additional glycosides identified as 4, 5 and 6. Research was done on the possibility of viral acativity of non-alkaloid compounds on two virus types:: RNA: VSV or stomactitis vesicular virus (of negative chain) and Rhinovirus type 1B, HR V1B. Such antiviral tests were also conducted on the related glycoside 7 to 9, previously isolated from the Brazilian Rubiaceae Guettarda platypoda. The following conclusion were reached based on the bark sample of Uncaria tomentosa (wild) DC:

• All the glycosides, in relatively high concentrations, in relation with toxic doses, presented an evident inhibitory effect on the viral activity of the vesicular stomactitis virus, VSV.
• No relation was found between the number of sugar residues and the antiviral effect.
• The presence of free carboxylic group in Carbon 27 could play a preponderant role in this antiviral action
• They considered that the most active compound is 3 with free carboxyl group in C-27 and C-28 (carbons 27 and 28)
• The nature of sugar components seem to play an important role when structural characteristics are maintained; thus the presence of quinovosa in glycoside 4 shows a higher activity than the presence of fucosa in glycoside
• In reference to the effect of these compounds on Rhinovirus 1B, HR V1B, they found that only glycoside 6 (with two units of glycoside and the free carboxyl group in C-27) was active against this kind of Rhinovirus, since it reduced the cytopathic viral action by 50% when the doses of 30 ug/ml was used. The maximum non-toxic concentration for the cells used, was 60 ug/ml.

1. M. Costa Fazzi evaluates Uncaria tomentosa (catís claw) in the prevention of stress-related gastric ulcers produced experimentally in rats, using a watery Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC extract as an oral pre treatment of stress-induced gastric pathology in rats, measuring diverse parameters as follows: incidence, number of lesions, ulcerous index and level of gastric compromise. They applied the cold water immobilization method, with a 48 hour fast, for the evaluation of the animalís total gastric content.

• The administration of 3 ml of the watery extract, prior to being exposed to stress, reduced significantly the number of lesions larger than 2 mm, having found no differences in the incidence of pathology nor in the presence of gastric bleeding. Thus they conclude that there is no possibility that the watery extract has diminished the onset of severe lesions, but did not prevent them from appearing.

1. R. Aquino et al. (1991), in the systematic search for pharmacologically active metabolites, describe the extraction and separation of the root bark in order to identify the compound with anti inflammatory activity, submitting these extracts to diverse tests, obtaining an anti-inflammatory response of 37% to 47%; thus proposing the following hypothesis:

• Possibly, the presence of mixed chemical structure in extracts and fractions of this specie could result in a significant anti-inflammatory effect.
• It is possible that some chemical structures, such as glycoside 7, have an anti-inflammatory action.
• It is possible that the biological activity is potentiated by action of other compounds with synergic characteristics or that act as vehicles.
• They cannot discard that the observed action of the extracts and derivatives could be a result of yet unidentified micro components.
• It is possible that the observed effects were due to previously identified compounds, but which need to be administered at significantly higher levels (e.g. Oleanolic acid).

1. G. Peluso studied the possible antiviral and anti-tumoral properties of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC, evaluating the action of this plantís extracts on the DNA polymerases a b and ¡ . He noted a great inhibitory activity of these compounds, mainly over polymerasas a . This represents an important advance in the knowledge of properties of this specie, considering prior studies about the slight pharmacological toxicity at high concentrations. This in view of the fact that until now there have been many vegetable substances with similar selective in vitro action, with restricted use due to their high toxicity.

    

2. R. Rizzi et al (1993) in his study "Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of Uncaria tomentosa and its extracts", determined the antimutagenic action of five extracts and six fractions of chloroform/methanol, in vitro and in vivo, and their toxicity and genotoxicity

The following trials were conducted:

• Microcosms, salmonella/mammal tests in strains TA98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA1537 and TA 1538 of S. Typhymurium, with and without metabolic activation.
• Antimutagenicity (in vitro) test, in induced photomutagenesys by 8-metoxipsolaren (8-MOP) plus UVA irradiation in S Typhimurium TA 012.
• Antimutagenesys (in vivo) test in two volunteer 35 years old men were given during 15 days a 6,5 g/day infusion of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC. One of them was non-smoker and the other a pack-a-day smoker, for a period of over 15 years. The induced mutagenesys was evaluated in S. Typhimurium TA98 and TA 100 in the urine of both men, before, during and after treatment with the infusion

The following results were obtained:

• The five extracts and the six different fractions showed slight toxicity only to 1000 m g/ml/plate in Ames test and non-mutagenic effect to 10,50,75 and 100 m g/plate, with and without metabolic activation in all the strains used.
• A protector effect was observed in all the extracts and fractions of the plant against the photomutagenesys, induced by 8-MOP+UVA (15 minutes of irradiation) with 100 m g/ml doses. The methanol extract was the most effective (59%) and the chloroform the least effective (27%). b carotene inhibits photomutageneys up to 68%.
• The urine of the non- smoker did not show any effect to any of the treatments. The urine of the smoker showed a significant decrease of the mutagenic potential at the end of the treatment, maintaining this action until 8 days passed the ingestion period.

1. The inmunostimulant effect of Uncaria tomentosa is described by the Peruvian doctors G. Aguero, V. Indacochea and the Q.F.F.Aguero S., in research done with terminally ill patients (breast cancer), where they were able to show a life extension (vs. original prognosis and controls) of about 19 months; and a significant reduction in lymphocyte evolution (see chart).

Development of two forms of breast cancer in terminally ill patients treated with alcohol-based extract of uncaria tomentosa

Treated Patient	Evolution of Lymphocytes	Weight	Diuresis	Temperature	Time of Survive
07/91 02/92	+17	Constant 65 kg	1 lt	36,5 C	19 months
04/92 08/93	+32	Constant 58 kg	1,4 lt	36,5 C	5 months

RECOMMENDED USES

• Analgesic
• Antioxidant
• Hipotensie
• Inmunostimmulant
• Antiinflamatory

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