Contributes to the immune system.
Cat's claw is a climbing plant of the Rubiaceae family. It is native to Peru and owes its name to the peculiar shape of the stingers at the base of the leaves. The active part of this herb is the bark, which contains oxindole alkaloids (dihydrocorinantein, isorhynchophylline, pteropodine, mitraphylline, rinchophylline, speciophylline, hirsutin, isomitraphylline, N-oxo-isomitraphylline, N-oxide-dihydrocorinantein, N-oxide-hirsutin, uncarin F and yohimbine); indole alkaloids, quinoline heterosides, triterpenes, steroids, polyphenols and proanthocyanidins.
Traditionally, cat's claw has been used as an immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory. The latter effect is due to its ability to inhibit TNF alpha (tumour necrosis factor) and, to a lesser extent, the production of PGE2 prostaglandins. It also has inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase 1 and 2. The immunostimulant effect is based on the regulation of lymphocyte proliferation (thus exerting an antiviral and phagocytosis-stimulating action). Total alkaloids (mainly oxindole alkaloids) have a beneficial effect on impaired memory. It stimulates DNA repair, mitogenic response and leukocyte recovery after chemotherapy treatment.
MAIN INDICATIONS:
- Osteoarticular inflammations.
- Gastroduodenal ulcers.
- Recurrent infections.
