Cat's Claw for Anti-Inflammatory

Research suggests that cat's claw (primarily Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis) demonstrates meaningful anti-inflammatory activity across a range of study types, including in vitro cell studies, animal models, and a small number of human clinical trials. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 preclinical studies found significant reductions in the inflammatory markers IL-6 and NF-κB, and earlier cell-based research identified suppression of TNF-alpha as a likely central mechanism, with one 2001 randomized controlled trial in osteoarthritis patients reporting reduced activity-related knee pain and improved assessments within one week of use. Studies indicate that the anti-inflammatory effects do not appear to stem primarily from cat's claw's well-known alkaloid content, but rather from other compounds such as flavanols, and that different extraction methods and species produce varying levels of activity. However, the overall body of clinical evidence remains limited — a 2005 critical review described the human evidence as inconclusive, a phase II cancer trial found no significant changes in inflammatory markers, and most supportive findings come from preclinical research, meaning stronger and more standardized human trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.