Revista Médica de la Universidad de Costa Rica ISSN electrónico: 1659-2441

OAI: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/medica/oai
Preclinical validation study of the anticancer traditional use of uncaria tomentosa (Cat's claw)
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Keywords

uncaria tomentosa
cat´s claw
medicinal plant
anticancer
alkaloids
plant conservation
uncaria tomentosa
uña de gato
planta medicinal
anti-tumoral
alcaloides
conservación de plantas

How to Cite

Díaz Oreiro, C., & Vargas Arroyo, M. (2013). Preclinical validation study of the anticancer traditional use of uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s claw). Revista Médica De La Universidad De Costa Rica, 6(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.15517/rmu.v6i1.8034

Abstract

Uncaria tomentosa has been widely used in several countries as an anticancer remedy, but due to its pharmacological effects this plant has been extensively harvested and faces extinction.     Regardless of its traditional anti-tumoral use, root bark water extract was the lesser active extract. Hydroalcoholic preparation of the root bark showed LD50 ranging from 150 to 500 μg/mL and leaf extracts (water and hydroalcoholic) showed LD50 as low as 180.1μg/mL.  Selectivity index showed that except for astrocytoma and leukemia, all tumor cells were 2-8 times more sensitive to the extracts than to non tumor cells.  Oxindole pentacyclic alkaloids (mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, uncarine C and uncarine E) are present in the extracts and they probably play a role in the cytotoxic effect on tumor cell lines.  Our study suggets that Uncaria tomentosa roots could be replaced by the leaves in order to obtain good pharmacological results, protecting the plant from extinction.
https://doi.org/10.15517/rmu.v6i1.8034
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