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Cat's claw is a South American vine bark sold as an immune and joint tonic and sometimes for cancer. Two small studies in people with cancer reported fewer chemotherapy side effects and better quality of life, but a laboratory study found it helped childhood leukaemia cells survive. It raises levels of some HIV drugs and may add to blood thinners.
Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) bark is used in South American traditional medicine for gut and inflammatory complaints and is marketed to support the body's defences. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs summary reports antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immune and anticancer effects in the laboratory, and limited human data: small studies in rheumatoid arthritis, reduced chemotherapy side effects in a study of women with breast cancer, and improved quality of life in advanced cancer. MSK also notes a preclinical finding that an extract could stimulate survival of paediatric leukaemia cells and concludes larger safety and efficacy studies are needed. Reported effects include nausea, diarrhoea and stomach upset, with case reports of acute kidney failure in a person with lupus and worsening motor signs in Parkinson's disease. Cat's claw significantly raised antiretroviral levels across 28 pharmacokinetic studies and case reports, inhibits CYP3A4 in vitro (relevant to cyclosporine and some benzodiazepines), and may increase bleeding with anticoagulants.
Oxindole alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides with immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory models.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Cat's claw" OR ABSTRACT:"Cat's claw" OR TITLE:"Uncaria tomentosa" OR ABSTRACT:"Uncaria tomentosa") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), not a curated reading list.
Shares Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia), Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
Shares Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms, Evidence-based integrative oncology, Misinformation and unproven therapies and the tags complementary, supportive-care.
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