What are the properties of cat’s claw?

Cat's claw, as the name suggests, is a plant that looks very similar to a cat's claw. Cat's claw is a plant that generally grows in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in my country, and its global range is relatively wide compared to other plants. Cat's claw is a plant with great medicinal value. People often use cat's claw to make medicine. Next, let’s take a look at the medicinal properties of cat’s claw.

1. Anti-tuberculosis and other bacteria

Regarding the anti-tuberculosis mechanism of cat's claw, Zhan Li et al. used the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QC-RT-PCR) method and PCR method to study the anti-tuberculosis molecular immunological mechanism of the active ingredient of cat's claw, tert-butyl lactone (Tern). The results showed that Tern could induce high-level expression of peripheral vascular GLS gene and kill intracellular pathogenic bacteria MBT in a dose-dependent manner. There was no significant difference in the induction level between drug-resistant and untreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

2. Anti-tumor effect

Wang Aiwu et al. investigated the effects of different extracts of cat's claw on tumor cells cultured in vitro. They used the system solvent method to extract cat's claw saponins and polysaccharides, and used MTT and colony formation experiments to observe the effects of different concentrations of saponins and polysaccharides on sarcoma S180, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma EAC and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cultured in vitro. The results showed that cat's claw saponins and polysaccharides had different degrees of effects on the growth and colony formation of the three tumor cell lines.

The dosage of saponin was positively correlated with the tumor inhibition rate and colony formation, while the polysaccharide had an optimal concentration. Zhou Li et al. found that the ethanol extract of cat's claw has a strong inducing effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Among the 36 Chinese herbal medicines screened, cat's claw (70% ethanol extract) has the strongest effect in inducing TNF.

The above is a detailed introduction to some relevant information about the medicinal properties of the plant cat's claw. According to doctors' research, cat's claw can treat many diseases, such as tuberculosis and other bad diseases. Moreover, the appearance of cat's claw is very beautiful and can be used as a decoration.