Disease relevance of Uncaria

• Current experience with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, Uncaria tomentosa, finds them to be efficacious in the treatment of RA, while Urtica diocia and willow bark extract are effective for osteoarthritis [1].
• The methanol extract from Uncaria sinensis showed a suppressive effect on umu gene expression of the SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 against the mutagen 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3b]indole (Trp-P-1), which requires liver metabolizing enzymes [2].
• Bioassay-directed fractionation for the determination of antimicrobial activity of Uncaria tomentosa, has led to the isolation of isopteropodine (0.3%), a known Uncaria pentacyclic oxindol alkaloid that exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria [3].

Psychiatry related information on Uncaria

• Efficacy of Choto-san on vascular dementia and the protective effect of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis on glutamate-induced neuronal death [4].
• Ethanol-induced amnesia was significantly ameliorated by repeated administration of methanol extract and alkaloid fraction of Uncaria hooks, similar to in the positive controls [5].

High impact information on Uncaria

• Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a medicinal plant from the Amazon River basin that is widely used for inflammatory disorders and was previously described as an inhibitor of NF-kappaB [6].
• Uncaria tomentosa and Urtica diocia both decrease the production of TNF-alpha [1].
• First asymmetric total synthesis of Us-7 and -8, novel D-seco Corynanthe-type oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria attenuata: structure revision of Us-7 and determination of absolute stereochemistry [7].
• Rhynchophylline (Rhy) and isorhynchophylline (Isorhy), indole alkaloids from Uncaria hooks, reportedly exert hypotensive and vasodilatory effects, but the mechanism of action is unclear [8].
• HCl and ethanol extracts and mixtures of alkaloids of Uncaria tomentosa inhibited both effects in a dose-dependent manner, the lowest effective concentrations of the extracts were 500 - 1000 microg/mL and of the alkaloid mixtures 100 - 175 microg/mL (p < 0.05 and < 0.01) [9].

Biological context of Uncaria

• Oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa induce apoptosis in proliferating, G0/G1-arrested and bcl-2-expressing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells [10].
• A new oleanan-type triterpene and three new cincholic acid glycosides were isolated from Peruvian "Una de Gato" (Cat's claw, plant of origin: Uncaria tomentosa), a traditional herbal medicine in Peru. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis [11].
• The Uncaria tomentosa water extracts (C-Med-100) depleted of indole alkaloids (< 0.05%, w/w) have been shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in tumor cells in vitro and to enhance DNA repair, mitogenic response and white blood cells in vivo [12].
• Depletion of specific binding sites for estrogen receptor by Uncaria tomentosa [13].

Anatomical context of Uncaria

• Pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa induce human endothelial cells to release a lymphocyte-proliferation-regulating factor [14].
• Pharmacological studies of geissoschizine methyl ether, isolated from Uncaria sinensis Oliv., in the central nervous system [15].
• Effects of hirsutine, an antihypertensive indole alkaloid from Uncaria rhynchophylla, on intracellular calcium in rat thoracic aorta [16].
• Protective effect of methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against excitotoxicity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate in rat hippocampus [17].
• The present study is designed to test our hypothesis that the ingestion of Uncaria sinensis (US), the main medicinal plant of Choto-san (Diao-teng-san, CS), would protect red blood cell (RBC) membrane from free radical-induced oxidation if polyphenolics in US could be absorbed and circulated in blood [18].

Associations of Uncaria with chemical compounds

• Alkaloid fraction of Uncaria rhynchophylla protects against N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced apoptosis in rat hippocampal slices [19].
• Pectin administered to Uncaria tomentosa cell suspension cultures, was found to increase the production of triterpene acids (ursolic and oleanolic acid), however, neither growth nor sterol accumulation were affected [20].
• The pharmacological properties of geissoschizine methyl ether, isolated from Uncaria sinensis Oliv., were analyzed in vitro and in vivo using mice central serotonin neurons [15].
• Evaluation of the protective effects of alkaloids isolated from the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis on glutamate-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells from rats [21].
• Quinovic acid glycosides from Uncaria guianensis [22].

Gene context of Uncaria

• Interestingly, Uncaria rhynchophylla dose-dependently increased VEGF, and bFGF gene expression and protein secretion of HUVEC [23].
• Among the herbal ingredients of CDS, the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil (UR) has shown significant inhibition against MMP-2 and -9 activity [24].
• AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the ability of cat's claw, an Amazonian medicinal plant, to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, collect safety and tolerance information and compare the antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions of Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa in vitro [25].
• The effects of Choto-san and Uncaria were blocked by pirenzepine, a selective muscarinic M1 antagonist [26].
• Involvement of 5-HT2 receptors in the antinociceptive effect of Uncaria tomentosa [27].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Uncaria

• Improved method for the determination of oxindole alkaloids in Uncaria tomentosa by high performance liquid chromatography [28].
• Monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloid production by Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D.C. cell suspension cultures in a stirred tank bioreactor [29].

References