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Uncaria is a genus with 34 species, distributed in Asia, Africa, and America. A few species have ethnobotanical interest and only one has been incorporated in the Pharmacopoeia, U. gambir (Hunter)Roxb. giving a tannin well known as palc catechu, it contains ( + )-catechin. A related Uncaria species, probably U. guianensis (Aubl.)Gmel. is used against tumors by the Campa in the Peruvian Amazon. Recently, a "cat's claw" ("uña de gato"), based on U. tomentosa bark, has been reported as useful for these diseases and various inflammatory disorders, including ulcers and Crohn's disease. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.)DC. is the other SouthAmerican species, that has a very similar alkaloid pattern, and both are discussed.
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