Uncaria rhynchophylla ex

Uncaria rhynchophylla · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Moderate (112 studies) · ★★★☆☆

Uncaria rhynchophylla ex, scientifically known as Uncaria rhynchophylla, is a significant medicinal climber belonging to the Rubiaceae family. Renowned for its bioactive alkaloids, this plant is widely utilized in traditional medicine to alleviate inflammation, support neurological health, and promote sleep, serving as a vital component in herbal pharmacology.

Family
Rubiaceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Stem · Leaf
Common names
Not available
Scientific synonyms
Nauclea Rhynchophylla · Ourouparia Rhynchophylla · 1 more

Names

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Nauclea rhynchophylla
  • Uncaria rhynchophylla var. kouteng
  • Ourouparia rhynchophylla
  • Uncaria rhynchophylloides

French:

  • Gou teng
  • Uncaria rhyncophylla

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Uncaria rhynchophylla

Synonyms

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling within the family Rubiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Uncaria.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Gentianales WCVP
Family Rubiaceae WCVP
Genus Uncaria WCVP

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of East and Southeast Asia. In China, it can be found specifically throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends further into Eastern Asia, where it is documented in both Japan and Taiwan. Additionally, the species is located within the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam. Together, these locations define the natural habitat range for Uncaria rhynchophylla.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Japan WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indo-China Vietnam WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Uncaria rhynchophylla, exhibits specialized morphological features characteristic of its climbing nature. As a woody vine, it utilizes sharp, curved hooks to anchor itself and ascend toward the sunlight. The foliage consists of a lush green leaf structure that facilitates photosynthesis, while the long, climbing stems provide the necessary framework for growth. The overall architecture of the plant is supported by sturdy, elongated stems that weave through the forest canopy. Most importantly, for medicinal purposes, the stem bark is the primary part harvested, as it contains the concentrated bioactive alkaloids used in traditional and modern pharmacology.
Plant Part Sources Consensus
stem Journal of separation science (and other 5 sources) ★★★☆☆
leaf Journal of natural products (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
root International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rhynchophylline, Corynoxeine, Isocorynoxeine, Flavonoids, Hirsuteine.

Chemicals reported in Uncaria rhynchophylla
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Rhynchophylline 6 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Corynoxeine 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Isocorynoxeine 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hirsuteine 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Isorhynchophylline 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Strictosidine 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
(E)-LINALOOL OXIDE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
As 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CATECHIN 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Rhynchophylline

  1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  2. Journal of chromatographic science
  3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
  4. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
  5. Acta pharmacologica Sinica
View 1 additional sources
  1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Corynoxeine

  1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  2. Journal of chromatographic science
  3. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
  4. International journal of biological macromolecules

Isocorynoxeine

  1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  2. Journal of chromatographic science
  3. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals

Flavonoids

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
  2. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England)

Hirsuteine

  1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
  2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Isorhynchophylline

  1. Journal of chromatographic science
  2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Strictosidine

  1. Plant, cell & environment
  2. International journal of biological macromolecules

(E)-LINALOOL OXIDE

  1. Journal of oleo science

As

  1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CATECHIN

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 6 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antihypertensive.

Most Reported Activities

Activity Sources Consensus
Antioxidant Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Neuroprotective International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Antihypertensive International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Free-Radical Scavenging Life sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Uncaria rhynchophylla has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's disease, cancer, epilepsy.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
Alzheimer's disease Acta pharmacologica Sinica (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
cardiovascular diseases Journal of separation science (and other 3 sources) ★★☆☆☆
Parkinson's disease Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
cancer Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
epilepsy Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
hypertension Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
neuroinflammation Acta pharmacologica Sinica (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
antihypertensive International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
anxiety CNS drugs (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
cognitive impairments Acta pharmacologica Sinica (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆

Preparations

Preparations Sources Consensus
Gou-Teng Journal of separation science (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
"Ling-Jiao-Gou-Teng-Yin" Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
"Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin" Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
"Yi-Gan-San" Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
50% aqueous methanol extracts Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Alkaloid fraction Neuroscience letters (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
CHCl3 extract of the leaves of Uncaria rhynchophylla Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Methanol extract Life sciences (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
U. rhyncophylla extracts Journal of chromatographic science (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
URP70-1 International journal of biological macromolecules (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆