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| Cat's claw is a vine native to Central and South America that can grow to a thickness of one foot at the base. It is known for its hook-like thorns used for climbing. These thorns look like--you guessed it--cat's claws. In the early 1970's, cat's claw came to the attention of President Nixon as a potential cancer cure. At the prompting of the President, the National Cancer Institute conducted in vitro studies of cat's claw and leukemia. While the studies showed promise, they were unexpectedly stopped the following year.
Several studies funded by pharmaceutical companies examined constituents of cat's claw with little success. Since over 50 potentially useful alkaloids were found in the cat's claw family, it became increasing clear that the whole herb was more effective than any individual compound. Since you cannot patent an herb, pharmaceutical companies had no financial motivation to continue their studies.
European studies of cat's claw and cancer are promising, but not yet conclusive. In a 1993 study published in Planta Medicina, Stuppner found that cat's claw blocked antimutagenic activity in smokers. A similar study showed cat's claw to be protective against ultraviolet and chemical induced mutagenicity. Stuppner also found that the alkaloid, uncarine F, found in cat's claw, inhibited leukemic cell growth without inhibiting the progenitor cells found in human bone marrow.
Copyright 2001 by Chip Engelmann
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