herbalist's shop

Uncaria in Herbalist: Property of Uncaria

Scientific name

Uncaria tomentosa

Family

Rubiaceae

Origin

Amazon

Used Parts

Drug consisting of the bark of the plant

Chemical constituents

  • Pentacyclic oxindolic alkaloids;
  • triterpenes;
  • Glycosides of quinovic acid;
  • Polyphenols (procyanidins, epicatechins);
  • mucilage;
  • Mineral salts;
  • Vitamins;
  • Phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, sigmasterol, capesterol).

Uncaria in Herbalist: Property of Uncaria

The uncaria is a plant endowed with a marked immunostimulant activity: indicated above all in the case of illnesses from cooling or for prophylactic purpose in association with other plants of the kind.

Biological activity

Numerous properties are attributed to the uncaria, among which we mention those immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, contraceptive and anticancer.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties ascribed to the plant have been confirmed by studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo. The anti-inflammatory action appears to be exerted through the inhibition of TNF-α (alpha tumor necrosis factor) and is mainly attributable to phytosterols and triterpenes contained in the plant, even if the exact molecules responsible for this activity have not yet been identified .

Other studies conducted on animals have instead shown that the extracts of uncaria are able to exert an antioxidant action through the reduction of oxidative stress and through a protective action on the DNA against the damages exercised by free radicals.

The oxindolic alkaloids contained in the uncaria, on the other hand, are responsible for the immunostimulatory activity attributed to the plant. In fact, from animal studies, it was found that these molecules are able to stimulate the production of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 (IL-1 and IL-6) at the level of alveolar macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.

Furthermore, in vitro studies have shown that some of the aforementioned alkaloids are also able to significantly increase phagocytosis.

Quinovic acid glycosides, on the other hand, have been shown to possess antiviral activity in vitro, especially against the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and against human rhinovirus 1B (HRV 1B).

On the other hand, other in vitro studies have shown that the aqueous extracts of uncaria have interesting antitumor properties, exercised through the inhibition of growth and the induction of apoptosis in different types of malignant cells.

Finally, as regards contraceptive action, at the moment there are not enough studies able to confirm it.

Uncaria in folk medicine and in homeopathy

In folk medicine, the uncaria is used for the treatment of disorders such as rheumatism, gastritis, diarrhea and for the treatment of wounds.

Furthermore, traditional medicine uses this plant as an adjunct remedy for irregular menstrual periods and asthma.

Finally, the peoples of Peru used to use the uncaria as a contraceptive remedy.

The uncaria is also used in the homeopathic field, where it can easily be found in oral capsules and drops in association with other homeopathic remedies with similar or complementary properties to its own.

Preparations containing uncaria usually are used by homeopathic medicine in the case of acute and chronic inflammations, arthrosis, rheumatism and recurrent infections; as well as being used as a preventive remedy for typically winter conditions (such as flu and colds) and as an immunostimulatory remedy.

The amount of homeopathic remedy to be taken can vary from one individual to another, also depending on the type of disorder that needs to be treated and according to the type of preparation and homeopathic dilution that is intended to be used.

Contraindications

Avoid the use of uncaria in case of ascertained hypersensitivity to one or more components, in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, in patients receiving therapy with immunosuppressive drugs, during pregnancy and during lactation.

Pharmacological Interactions

The unary can interfere with the activity of:

  • Immunosuppressive drugs;
  • Anticoagulants, low molecular weight heparins, platelet aggregation inhibitors and thrombolytic agents.

Warnings

In phytotherapy it is necessary to avoid the chemotype to tetracyclic alkaloids, as these have been shown to have immunodepressive activity, sedative on the CNS and hypotensive.