Cat’s claw is an herb native to Central and South America that has been used for centuries in traditional folk medicine to treat various health complaints. Studies indicate that cat’s claw possesses powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which support DNA repair, joint health, immune function, and normal cell division. Cat’s claw has two known species, and its phytochemicals include more than 30 known constituents, including alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, sterol fractions, and other compounds. Although cat’s claw was previously believed to owe its efficacy to oxindole alkaloids, it is now known that water-soluble cat’s claw extracts, which do not contain significant amounts of alkaloids, possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This discovery has led researchers to conclude that quinic acid esters are the active constituents of water-soluble cat’s claw extract.
Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Cat’s claw extract exhibits powerful antioxidant effects, as it quenches dangerous peroxyl and superoxide radicals. Laboratory analysis reveals that the antioxidant power of cat’s claw exceeds that of many extracts of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and medicinal plants. Chronic inflammation is the basis of many diseases that afflict aging adults, and cat’s claw is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an inflammatory messenger that sets the stage for both acute and chronic inflammation. Cat’s claw also inhibits the activation of nuclear factor-kappa beta, an inflammatory “switch” that is associated with cancer and other fatal diseases. Cat’s claw may also help alleviate arthritis pain and discomfort by suppressing inflammation to promote healthy joint structure and function.
Protect Cartilage
Cat’s claw may protect cartilage, which is the tissue that functions as a shock absorber at joint surfaces where bones meet. Loss of cartilage, which is a defining characteristic of osteoarthritis, occurs when the breakdown of cartilage outpaces its regeneration. Cat’s claw helped restore levels of joint-protective insulin-like growth factor-1 when human cartilage cells were exposed to joint-destroying interleukin-1 beta. By suppressing inflammatory agents that can degrade cartilage, cat’s claw may help to preserve healthy cartilage in aging joints. In a clinical trial, scientists found that cat’s claw offered relief for adults suffering from osteoarthritis, as significant reductions in pain associated with physical activity were observed in those who received cat’s claw preparation.
Boosts Immune System
Cat’s claw naturally boosts the immune system, which strengthens its defenses against the multitude of pathogens encountered each day in the air, water, and environment. In a study of cat’s claw’s effects on the immune system of rats, supplementation with cat’s claw for eight weeks significantly elevated the animals’ white blood cell count, suggesting an improved ability to fight off infectious invaders. Adult men who supplemented with cat’s claw for six months experienced an increase in their white blood cell count, indicating enhanced immune function. Another clinical study indicates that cat’s claw may help boost the efficacy of vaccines, as adults who supplemented with cat’s claw for two months before receiving a pneumonia vaccination had antibody titers that remained at higher levels five months longer than those in the control subjects.
Cat’s Claw and DNA Repair
Studies have shown that cat’s claw can protect DNA from oxidative stress, which is essential in protecting against cancer. DNA is highly vulnerable to damage from free-radical assault, which can contribute to the initiation of cancer and other lethal diseases.
In one study, scientists conducted a study of cultured human skin cells to ascertain whether cat’s claw extract can protect delicate DNA from oxidative stress. They found that an aqueous extract of cat’s claw protected skin cells from death induced by ultraviolet radiation, by increasing the cells’ ability to repair ultraviolet-light-induced DNA damage.11
Chemotherapy plays a critical role in contemporary cancer treatment. However, its great drawback is that it can damage DNA in healthy cells. When adult volunteers who had previously undergone chemotherapy supplemented with water-soluble cat’s claw extract for eight weeks, they exhibited markedly decreased DNA damage and increased DNA repair. The participants also demonstrated an increase in white blood cell proliferation. This is an important finding, as chemotherapy typically suppresses white blood cell counts and thus increases one’s susceptibility to infections. Cat’s claw may thus provide crucial DNA and white blood cell support to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.12
Cat’s Claw and Cancer Proliferation
Cat’s claw may be a powerful ally in the fight against cancer by preventing the abnormal cell division that characterizes this dreaded disease. Exciting laboratory findings suggest that cat’s claw extract prevented the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in the laboratory.13
Cat’s claw also displays activity against leukemia cells (cancer of the blood-producing cells in bone marrow). European researchers found that cat’s claw inhibited human leukemia cells from growing in the laboratory and induced them to undergo programmed self-destruction (apoptosis). Certain constituents in cat’s claw not only halted cancer cell growth but killed the cancer cells outright.14
The precise mechanism by which cat’s claw counters cancer is not yet fully understood. Scientists believe that its ability to regulate certain immune system cytokines may help strengthen the body’s defense against cancer.15,16
Safety and Dosage Considerations
Cat’s claw is generally safe and well tolerated, with diarrhea being the only potential side effect reported in some cases. However, because cat’s claw may stimulate the immune system, it should be avoided by individuals undergoing organ transplants, skin grafts, and immunosuppressive therapy. While there is some evidence that cat’s claw may benefit rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, it should not be used on a long-term basis in people with autoimmune disorders such as lupus or multiple sclerosis until further studies are available. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under the age of three should also avoid using cat’s claw.
Cat’s Claw can be consumed in several forms, including as a tea, capsule, tincture, or extract. The recommended dosage varies depending on the form of Cat’s Claw, as well as the reason for use. It is always best to consult a healthcare professional before adding Cat’s Claw to your diet, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking any medications.
Commercial cat’s claw preparations can vary in dosage and standardization of active constituents. The typical dosage of a cat’s claw preparation is up to 350 mg daily, standardized to contain 8% carboxy alkyl esters.
The health-promoting properties of cat’s claw extracts are remarkable, and they serve as a prime example of the incredible potential that may lie within the vast array of plant species in the Amazon rainforest. Used for centuries by indigenous cultures, cat’s claw has demonstrated powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as immune-modulating capabilities. This emerging botanical agent may be an essential new tool for managing joint discomfort, protecting the integrity of DNA, and enhancing the body’s defense against cancer.
