Uncaria Tomentosa Extract, commonly known as cat’s claw, is derived from the bark and roots of a tropical vine native to the Amazon rainforest. This plant is renowned for its potent immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Uncaria Tomentosa is used in cosmetic formulations and dietary supplements for its benefits in boosting the immune system, promoting skin health, and combating signs of skin aging. It is also valued for its ability to protect the skin from environmental damage and reduce inflammation.
Chemical Composition and Structure
Uncaria Tomentosa extract contains several active compounds, including pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids, polyphenols, glycosides, and triterpenes. These compounds work synergistically to provide powerful antioxidant and immune-boosting effects, helping protect cells from oxidative degradation and supporting the skin's immune function.
Production Process
Uncaria Tomentosa extract is produced by extracting the active compounds from the bark and roots of the plant using aqueous or alcoholic solvents. The extraction process is designed to preserve the plant’s bioactive compounds, ensuring a pure and potent extract suitable for cosmetic formulations and supplements.
Harvesting the Plant: Uncaria tomentosa is sustainably harvested from the rainforests of the Amazon and other tropical areas. The parts of the plant used include the bark and roots.
Drying: After harvesting, the plant parts are cleaned and subjected to a drying process to remove moisture. This step is crucial for preserving the active properties of the extract and facilitating subsequent extraction.
Extraction: The extraction of active principles occurs using appropriate solvents such as water, ethanol, or methanol. The dried parts of Uncaria tomentosa are immersed in the solvent, and the mixture is agitated or heated to promote the release of bioactive compounds.
Filtration: Once the extraction process is complete, the obtained solution is filtered to remove undissolved solids, resulting in a liquid extract containing the active principles of the plant.
Concentration: The extract may be further concentrated by evaporating the solvent to obtain a product richer in nutrients and with greater stability.
Quality Control and Packaging: Finally, Uncaria tomentosa extract undergoes quality control checks to verify its purity, efficacy, and compliance with standards. After analysis, it is packaged for distribution and use in cosmetic products and dietary supplements.
Physical Properties
The extract appears as a light brown or yellowish powder or liquid. It is water-soluble and can be easily incorporated into creams, serums, and lotions. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it is used in formulations aimed at soothing and protecting the skin.
Applications
Skincare: Used in creams, serums, and lotions for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties, Uncaria Tomentosa extract helps protect the skin from free radicals, preventing environmental damage and improving skin elasticity and firmness.
Anti-inflammatory Treatments: Thanks to its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, it is used in products for treating skin irritations, redness, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Dietary Supplements: The extract is commonly used in supplements to stimulate the immune system and improve the body’s immune response against infections and inflammation.
INCI Functions:
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
Health and Safety Considerations
Safety in Use
Uncaria Tomentosa extract is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic products and as a dietary supplement. However, moderate use is advised for individuals with autoimmune conditions or those taking immunosuppressive medications, as it may enhance immune responses. It is also not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to Uncaria Tomentosa extract are rare but may occur in individuals with sensitivity to plants from the Rubiaceae family. A patch test is recommended before topical use of the product.
Toxicity and Carcinogenicity
It is widely used in both cosmetic products and supplements, with studies confirming its safety for long-term use.
Environmental Considerations
As a plant native to the Amazon rainforest, it is important to ensure that Uncaria Tomentosa is harvested sustainably to protect the environment and natural resources. The use of sustainable harvesting techniques helps preserve the local ecosystem.
Regulatory Status
Uncaria Tomentosa extract is approved for use in cosmetics and as a dietary supplement by major regulatory authorities. It is widely used in Europe and the United States in compliance with local regulations.
References__________________________________________________________________________
Keplinger K, Laus G, Wurm M, Dierich MP, Teppner H. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC.--ethnomedicinal use and new pharmacological, toxicological and botanical results. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Jan;64(1):23-34. doi: 10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00096-8.
Abstract. The medicinal system of the Asháninka Indians in Perú is portrayed. Three categories of medical disorders and healers are recognized. A human is viewed to consist of a physical and a spiritual being who communicate with each other by means of a regulating element. The significance of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), locally known as unã de gato, in traditional medicine is emphasized by its exclusive use by priests to influence this regulation. Pharmacological and toxicological results obtained with extracts or isolated compounds are summarized. Pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids stimulate endothelial cells in vitro to produce a lymphocyte-proliferation-regulating factor. Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids act as antagonists. A significant normalization of lymphocyte percentage was observed in vivo although total leucocyte numbers did not change.
Della Valle V. Uncaria tomentosa. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Dec;152(6):651-657. doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.17.05712-1.
Abstract. Uncaria tomentosa (U. tomentosa) or uña de gato, a species of vine of Rubiaceae family, was used from centuries in various medical conditions. Although there are no randomized controlled trials or published human outcome studies, some conditions reportedly improved by U. tomentosa include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, prostatitis, viral illnesses and cancer (acting as a non-specific immunomodulantign agent) and it may also have potential as an immunomodulating adaptogen in cellular aging. The understanding of some specific mechanisms of molecular action leads to the demonstration of various anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and protective effects. These results bring the strong hypothesis that U. tomentosa could be effective in the topical treatment of dermatological manifestation, namely rosacea.
Araujo LCC, Feitosa KB, Murata GM, Furigo IC, Teixeira SA, Lucena CF, Ribeiro LM, Muscará MN, Costa SKP, Donato J Jr, Bordin S, Curi R, Carvalho CRO. Uncaria tomentosa improves insulin sensitivity and inflammation in experimental NAFLD. Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 20;8(1):11013. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29044-y.
Abstract. We investigated the effect of the crude herbal extract from Uncaria tomentosa (UT) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in two models of obesity: high fat diet (HFD) and genetically obese (ob/ob) mice. Both obese mouse models were insulin resistant and exhibited an abundance of lipid droplets in the hepatocytes and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver, while only the HFD group had collagen deposition in the perivascular space of the liver. UT treatment significantly reduced liver steatosis and inflammation in both obese mouse models. Furthermore, serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 was reduced by 25% in the HFD mice treated with UT. Overall, UT treated animals exhibited higher insulin sensitivity as compared to vehicle administration. In conclusion, Uncaria tomentosa extract improved glucose homeostasis and reverted NAFLD to a benign hepatic steatosis condition and these effects were associated with the attenuation of liver inflammation in obese mice.
Yepes-Pérez AF, Herrera-Calderon O, Quintero-Saumeth J. Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw): a promising herbal medicine against SARS-CoV-2/ACE-2 junction and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein based on molecular modeling. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2022 Mar;40(5):2227-2243. doi: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1837676.
Abstract. COVID-19 is a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Currently, there is no effective treatment and vaccines seem to be the solution in the future. Virtual screening of potential drugs against the S protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has provided small molecular compounds with a high binding affinity. Unfortunately, most of these drugs do not attach with the binding interface of the receptor-binding domain (RBD)-angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) complex in host cells. Molecular modeling was carried out to evaluate the potential antiviral properties of the components of the medicinal herb Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) focusing on the binding interface of the RBD-ACE-2 and the viral spike protein. The in silico approach starts with protein-ligand docking of 26 Cat's claw key components followed by molecular dynamics simulations and re-docked calculations. Finally, we carried out drug-likeness calculations for the most qualified cat's claw components. The structural bioinformatics approaches led to the identification of several bioactive compounds of U. tomentosa with potential therapeutic effect by dual strong interaction with interface of the RBD-ACE-2 and the ACE-2 binding site on SARS-CoV-2 RBD viral spike. In addition, in silico drug-likeness indices for these components were calculated and showed good predicted therapeutic profiles of these phytochemicals found in U. tomentosa (cat's claw). Our findings suggest the potential effectiveness of cat's claw as complementary and/or alternative medicine for COVID-19 treatment.
Zari A, Alfarteesh H, Buckner C, Lafrenie R. Treatment with Uncaria tomentosa Promotes Apoptosis in B16-BL6 Mouse Melanoma Cells and Inhibits the Growth of B16-BL6 Tumours. Molecules. 2021 Feb 18;26(4):1066. doi: 10.3390/molecules26041066.
Abstract. Uncaria tomentosa is a medicinal plant native to Peru that has been traditionally used in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders. In this study, the effectiveness of U. tomentosa as an anti-cancer agent was assessed using the growth and survival of B16-BL6 mouse melanoma cells. B16-BL6 cell cultures treated with both ethanol and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) extracts of U. tomentosa displayed up to 80% lower levels of growth and increased apoptosis compared to vehicle controls. Treatment with ethanolic extracts of Uncaria tomentosa were much more effective than treatment with aqueous extracts. U. tomentosa was also shown to inhibit B16-BL6 cell growth in C57/bl mice in vivo. Mice injected with both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of U. tomentosa showed a 59 ± 13% decrease in B16-BL6 tumour weight and a 40 ± 9% decrease in tumour size. Histochemical analysis of the B16-BL6 tumours showed a strong reduction in the Ki-67 cell proliferation marker in U. tomentosa-treated mice and a small, but insignificant increase in terminal transferase dUTP nick labelling (TUNEL) staining. Furthermore, U. tomentosa extracts reduced angiogenic markers and reduced the infiltration of T cells into the tumours. Collectively, the results in this study concluded that U. tomentosa has potent anti-cancer activity that significantly inhibited cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Uncaria Tomentosa Extract 
