Uncaria rhynchophylla
Uncaria rhynchophylla ex
Uncaria rhynchophylla, commonly known as Cat's Claw, is a woody vine native to the Amazon rainforest. Renowned in traditional medicine, it contains bioactive alkaloids with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Today, it is widely studied for its ability to support immune function and alleviate various inflammatory conditions naturally.
- Scientific name: Uncaria rhynchophylla
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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 |
Common Names
This plant, Uncaria rhynchophylla, is known by various common names across different languages and regions. In Japan, it is referred to as カギカズラ (ja), while in Korea, it is commonly called 조구등 (ko). In Chinese-speaking regions, the names vary slightly depending on the specific nomenclature used: it is known as 嘴叶钩藤 (zh) and 钩藤 (zh-cn) in mainland China, and as 嘴葉鉤藤 (zh-tw) in Taiwan.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | カギカズラ | Wikidata |
| ko | 조구등 | Wikidata |
| zh | 嘴叶钩藤 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 嘴葉鉤藤 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 钩藤 | Wikidata |
| arz | انكاريا رينكوفيلا | Wikidata |
| id | Cakar kucing | Wikidata |
| ja | チョウトウコウ | Wikidata |
| ja | 釣藤鈎 | Wikidata |
| fr | Gou teng | Wikidata |
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.- Total parts
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 22
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hooks | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stems | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hook-bearing stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hook stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Uncaria rhynchophylla has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 46 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include corynoxeine, rhynchophylline, isocorynoxeine, Rhynchophylline, flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 33
- Scientific sources
- 46
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| corynoxeine | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rhynchophylline | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| isocorynoxeine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Rhynchophylline | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hirsuteine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isorhynchophylline | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| strictosidine | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (E)-linalool oxide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| As | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Uncaria rhynchophylla has 6 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antihypertensive.
- Total activities
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Free-Radical Scavenging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Uncaria rhynchophylla has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson's disease, cancer, epilepsy.
- Total uses
- 17
- Scientific sources
- 26
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's disease | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cardiovascular diseases | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Parkinson's disease | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epilepsy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neuroinflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive impairments | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |