Devil's claw

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• devil's-claw
• grappleplant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Uncaria procumbens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Harpagophytum procumbens is characterized by its specific niche within the specialized ecosystems of southern Africa, where it thrives within a distinct altitudinal gradient. This medicinal plant is typically found occupying environments situated between an elevation of 600 m AMSL and a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. Within this range, it adapts to the unique climatic and soil conditions of its native habitat, playing a role in the localized biodiversity of its mountainous or plateau regions. The species' survival is closely tied to these specific elevations, which dictate the temperature regimes and moisture availability essential for its growth and developmental cycles.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Harpagophytum procumbens is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its natural habitat over multiple growing seasons. As a creeping subshrub, it develops via a specialized underground rhizome system that facilitates long-term survival and vegetative spread. Throughout its life cycle, the plant focuses significant energy on the development of these robust, woody rhizomes, which serve as the primary storage organs for nutrients and the source of its bioactive compounds. From its initial establishment, the plant undergoes seasonal cycles of growth, extending its slender, prostrate stems across the soil surface to colonize new areas. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can withstand environmental fluctuations, maintaining a continuous presence in its ecosystem through repeated cycles of vegetative expansion and periodic reproductive efforts.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Harpagophytum procumbens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, existing primarily as a terrestrial species. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as an obligate or facultative climber, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent lifestyle. The plant exhibits a variable height, with a minimum recorded height of 0.6 m, a mean height of approximately 0.3 m, and a maximum height that can reach up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Harpagophytum procumbens is characterized by its specialized adaptations to the arid, sandy environments of Southern Africa, where it functions as a perennial geophyte. The plant relies on a robust, fleshy tuberous rhizome that serves as a primary physiological reservoir for water and starch, allowing it to survive prolonged periods of drought. Its metabolic processes are geared toward the synthesis of complex secondary metabolites, most notably iridoid glycosides such as harpagide and harpagoside, which are produced as part of its chemical defense and physiological response mechanisms. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not engage in symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria for atmospheric gas conversion; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer (trait_1: no). Instead, its nutrient uptake is strictly dependent on the availability of minerals within the soil substrate through its specialized root system. The photosynthetic activity is optimized to maintain carbon fixation under high-temperature stress, utilizing physiological mechanisms to regulate transpiration and prevent cellular desiccation during the dry season.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Harpagophytum procumbens is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and distinct dispersal strategies. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a notable range in size, with a minimum seed mass of 0.00875 g and a maximum seed mass of 0.01645 g. On average, the seed mass is recorded at approximately 0.0123816665 g. Regarding the movement of these seeds to new locations, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, although its reproductive strategy is noted to involve a variety of methods including anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized dispersal mechanisms.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

0.01645 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0123816665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00875 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Harpagophytum procumbens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Planta medica
2. PloS one
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Archives of pharmacal research

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.

Harpagoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Planta medica
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Harpagide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of natural products

Verbascoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

2-methoxy-benzyl alcohol

1. Dr. Duke

4-methoxy-benzyl alcohol

1. Dr. Duke

8-P-COUMAROYL-HARPAGIDE

1. Dr. Duke

8-coumaroylharpagide

1. Journal of natural products

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. 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.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. PloS one
4. Phytochemistry
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemopreventive

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Harpagophytum procumbens has 21 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain, inflammation, analgesic, hyperalgesia, low back pain.

Pain

1. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Spine
4. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
5. Planta medica

Inflammation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia
3. Advances in pharmacological sciences
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Analgesic

1. PloS one
2. Planta medica
3. Phytochemistry

Hyperalgesia

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Low back pain

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Spine

Rheumatic diseases

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Nutrients
2. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM

Alzheimer's diseases

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Allodynia

1. Natural product research

Appetite

1. PloS one

Preparations

Harpagophytum procumbens has 17 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include root extract, 1-L glass-column bioreactor, 3-L stirred tank reactor, Harpagophytum extracts, Harpagophytum procumbens extract.

Root extract

1. PloS one
2. Analytical chemistry

1-l glass-column bioreactor

1. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

3-l stirred tank reactor

1. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Harpagophytum extracts

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Harpagophytum procumbens extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Harpagophytum procumbens methanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Planta medica

Crude extracts

1. Journal of natural products

Devil's claw extracts

1. Phytochemistry

Dried secondary roots

1. Planta medica