Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC.—Ethnomedicinal use and new pharmacological, toxicological and botanical results

The medicinal system of the Asháninka Indians in Perú is portrayed. Three categories of medical disorders and healers are recognized. A human is viewed to consist of a physical and a spiritual being who communicate with each other by means of a regulating element. The significance of Uncaria tomento...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethnopharmacology 1998, Vol.64 (1), p.23-34
Main Authors: Keplinger, Klaus, Laus, Gerhard, Wurm, Martin, Dierich, Manfred P, Teppner, Herwig
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asháninka
Lymphocyte proliferation
Oxindole alkaloids
Perú
Uncaria tomentosa
Uña de gato
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Summary:The medicinal system of the Asháninka Indians in Perú is portrayed. Three categories of medical disorders and healers are recognized. A human is viewed to consist of a physical and a spiritual being who communicate with each other by means of a regulating element. The significance of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. (Rubiaceae), locally known as uña de gato, in traditional medicine is emphasized by its exclusive use by priests to influence this regulation. Pharmacological and toxicological results obtained with extracts or isolated compounds are summarized. Pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids stimulate endothelial cells in vitro to produce a lymphocyte-proliferation-regulating factor. Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids act as antagonists. A significant normalization of lymphocyte percentage was observed in vivo although total leucocyte numbers did not change.
ISSN:0378-8741
1872-7573
DOI:10.1016/S0378-8741(98)00096-8