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By Greg Arnold, May 25, 2004, Abstracted
from “Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat's claw in
osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species
Uncaria guianensis” in Inflammation Research; 2001;
50(9): 442-8
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As herbal remedies start to make their way into mainstream medicine, some have had more success than others. While mixed results have been seen with Ginseng on the immune system,1 and Gingko Biloba with potential bleeding problems,(2,3) one herb receiving positive press is cat’s claw.
In a study published in 2001, researchers sought to evaluate the ability of cat's claw, an Amazonian medicinal plant, to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. The researchers compared the two different forms of cat’s claw: of Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa, in a separate in vitro experiment while using U. guianensis with the patients. The In vitro sought to compare the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the two species on Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa) and the Prostaglandin E2 pathway (PGE2). Researchers studied forty-five patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, of which 30 were given freeze-dried U guianensis, and 15 given placebo.
To the researchers’ satisfaction, cat's claw had no deleterious effects on blood or liver function or other significant side-effects compared to placebo. The subjects reported a significant reduction in activity-associated pain that was experienced within the first week of therapy. Knee pain at rest and knee circumference were not significantly reduced with the cat’s claw supplementation.
The separate in vitro tests indicated that U guianensis and U. tomentosa were equivalent in their antioxidant capabilities, more so by inhibiting TNFa rather than PGE2 production. Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that cat's claw is an “effective treatment” for osteoarthritis.
For Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) sufferers, there is also good news about cat’s claw. In a randomized, double-blind study of forty patients currently taking RA medications participated in a two-phase study over fifty-two weeks. The first twenty-four weeks had the patients taking the Uncaria tomentosa (UT) extract or placebo while the last twenty-eight weeks had both groups taking the extract.
The completion of the first phase saw a reduction in the number of painful joint of the UT group (53.2 percent) compared to placebo (24.1 percent) while both groups, including the group taking only UT in the second phase, experienced a reduction in the number of painful and swollen joints. The researchers concluded that cat’s claw can deliver a “modest benefit” for RA sufferers. Nevertheless, it’s still pain relief.
References:
1 Wang H. Asian and Siberian ginseng as a potential modulator of immune function: an in vitro cytokine study using mouse macrophages. Clinical Chimica Acta 2003; 327 (1-2): 123-128
2 Hauser D. Bleeding complications precipitated by unrecognized Gingko biloba use after liver transplantation. Transplant International 2002; 5(7):377-9. Epub 2002 Jun 19.
3 Fong KC. Retrobulbar haemorrhage associated with chronic Gingko biloba ingestion. Postgraduate Medical Journal 2003; 79(935): 531-2
4 Hartig ME. Randomized double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Rheumatology 2002; 29(4): 678-81
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