Devil's claw
Harpagophytum procumbens · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (752 studies) · ★★★★★
Devil's claw, scientifically known as Harpagophytum procumbens, is a perennial herb native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, it is widely used in traditional and modern medicine to alleviate joint pain, arthritis, and digestive discomfort. Its active compounds, particularly iridoid glycosides, drive its therapeutic efficacy.
- Family
- Pedaliaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Root
- Common names
- Devil'S-Claw · Grappleplant
- Scientific synonyms
- Uncaria Procumbens
Names
Common Names
- devil's-claw
- grappleplant
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Harpagofito
- Harpagófito
- Uncaria procumbens
German:
- Afrikanische Teufelskralle
- Trampelklette
French:
- Harpagophyton
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Harpagophytum procumbensSynonyms
- Uncaria procumbens
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Pedaliaceae. It is further identified by the genus Harpagophytum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Pedaliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Harpagophytum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is native to specific regions within the South Tropical Africa area, including Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat extends across several parts of Southern Africa, such as Botswana. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the Cape Provinces. The distribution also encompasses the mountainous terrain of Lesotho. Finally, this medicinal species is documented to inhabit parts of Namibia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Tropical Africa | Zimbabwe | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Botswana | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Cape Provinces | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Lesotho | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Namibia | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Free State | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Eswatini | WCVP |
| Southern Africa | Northern Provinces | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as devil's claw, utilizes various anatomical structures for its medicinal properties, primarily centered around its underground components. The most potent therapeutic compounds are concentrated within its fleshy tubers, which serve as the primary storage organs. In scientific and pharmaceutical research, transformed root cultures are frequently employed to study and produce specific bioactive metabolites under controlled conditions. While the medicinal value is often attributed to the primary root system, the plant's complex architecture also includes various roots that anchor it in its native habitat. Furthermore, in many traditional preparations and commercial extracts, dried secondary roots are processed to harness their concentrated chemical potency.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root | Planta medica (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Harpagophytum procumbens has 96 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Harpagoside, Harpagide, Verbascoside, 2-methoxy-benzyl alcohol, 4-methoxy-benzyl alcohol.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Harpagoside | 15 supporting sources | ★★★★★ |
| Harpagide | 7 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| Verbascoside | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 2-methoxy-benzyl alcohol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-methoxy-benzyl alcohol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-P-COUMAROYL-HARPAGIDE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 8-coumaroylharpagide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALUMINUM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ash | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-SITOSTEROL | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Harpagoside
- Dr. Duke
- The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
- Phytotherapy research : PTR
- Planta medica
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
View 10 additional sources
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Journal of chromatography. A
- Cytokine
- Phytochemistry
- Spine
- Journal of natural products
- Fitoterapia
- The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Harpagide
- Dr. Duke
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Journal of natural products
View 2 additional sources
- Fitoterapia
- The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Verbascoside
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of natural products
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
2-methoxy-benzyl alcohol
- Dr. Duke
4-methoxy-benzyl alcohol
- Dr. Duke
8-P-COUMAROYL-HARPAGIDE
- Dr. Duke
8-coumaroylharpagide
- Journal of natural products
ALUMINUM
- Dr. Duke
Ash
- Dr. Duke
BETA-SITOSTEROL
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Harpagophytum procumbens has 539 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Chemopreventive.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antinociceptive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Chemopreventive | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Inotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Harpagophytum procumbens has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include pain, inflammation, analgesic, hyperalgesia, low back pain.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| pain | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| inflammation | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| analgesic | PloS one (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hyperalgesia | Natural product research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| low back pain | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatic diseases | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | Nutrients (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's diseases | Archives of pharmacal research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| allodynia | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| appetite | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root extract | PloS one (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-L glass-column bioreactor | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-L stirred tank reactor | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Harpagophytum extracts | Journal of chromatography. A (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Harpagophytum procumbens extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Harpagophytum procumbens methanolic extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude extracts | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| devil's claw extracts | Phytochemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried secondary roots | Planta medica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |