Functional potential of cat's cock (Uncaria tomentosa): a review on therapeutic effects

Abstract

One of the most promising plants in the Amazon region that has been attracting attention in the health area is an Uncaria tomentosa, also known as cat's claw. Concerning the importance of using medicinal plants for a population and that U. tomentosa is a very present plant in the Amazon region. The present study aims to gather the main information about the therapeutic effects of U. tomentosa both in vitro and in vivo. The most important group of secondary metabolites present in U. tomentosa are the alkaloids. These alkaloids are used as markers to analyze species quality. Antioxidant activities of free radical scavenging, as well as against DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, were observed in U. tomentosa extracts. Recently, antiplatelet effects, as well as an effect of inhibiting the production of tumor necrosis factor and the ability to elevate the expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) dependent on lipopolysaccharide, were found. U. tomentosa has bioactivities that make it an important medicinal plant due to its functional properties. The easy access to U. tomentosa is another point that should be highlighted, considering that it is a widely distributed plant in Brazil, thus making it a possible plant for use with herbal medicine. The present study presents a broad vision around the subject portrayed, opening doors for new discoveries and extolling the properties already reported in the literature.