NOW Foods Cat's Claw Extract 334 mg (120 Veg Capsules)

Cat's Claw Extract (known botanically as Uncaria tomentosa and traditionally celebrated as Uña de Gato) is a revered Amazonian rain forest woody vine celebrated for centuries by native Peruvian herbalists. Its unique name comes from the sharp, curved thorns that grow along the vine, closely resembling the claws of a cat. Native cultures, particularly the Asháninka people of the Peruvian highlands, traditionally simmered the inner bark to sustain seasonal resilience, physical vitality, and comfortable joint mobility.

While standard crude bark powders vary widely in botanical strength, NOW Foods Cat's Claw Extract delivers a concentrated 10:1 botanical extract standardized to contain a guaranteed minimum of 0.9% Total Oxindole Alkaloids. Every single vegetarian capsule provides 334 mg of bioavailable extract complex, delivering the exact bioactive compounds necessary to modulate healthy immune function, protect cellular DNA, and soothe everyday joint wear and tear.

Key Functional Highlights:

• ✓ Standardized Potency: Concentrated 334 mg extract complex delivering a verified 0.9% minimum of therapeutic oxindole alkaloids per capsule.
• ✓ Balanced Immune Modulation: Supports the normal activity of white blood cells (macrophages and lymphocytes) without triggering unwanted immune overstimulation.
• ✓ Targeted Joint Comfort: Calms inflammatory pathways that contribute to joint stiffness, promoting ease of motion in knees, hips, and fingers.
• ✓ Antioxidant & DNA Protection: Contains natural quinic acid esters and polyphenols that defend cellular structures against daily oxidative stress.
• ✓ Non-GMO Project Verified: Clean vegetarian capsules free from common allergens, synthetic binders, and artificial flow agents.

How Cat's Claw Works in the Human Body (Mechanism of Action)

To truly understand why Uncaria tomentosa is so effective, it helps to look past folklore and examine how its bioactive compounds interact with human cellular pathways in plain, everyday language:

1. Turning Down the "Inflammation Switch" (NF-κB Regulation)

Inside your cells lies a master protein sensor called Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB). When your joints experience physical strain, metabolic friction, or oxidative stress, NF-κB flips "on," commanding your body to produce a cascade of inflammatory messengers, including Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Standardized Cat's Claw extract naturally inhibits the activation of NF-κB. By turning down this master switch upstream, Cat's Claw reduces the biological signals that break down joint cartilage and cause chronic stiffness.

2. Intelligent Immune Balancing (POAs vs. TOAs)

Unlike simple immune stimulants that push your defenses into overdrive, Cat's Claw is an immunomodulator. The primary active constituents in authentic Uncaria tomentosa bark are Pentacyclic Oxindole Alkaloids (POAs), such as pteropodine and isopteropodine. POAs strengthen the phagocytic ability of your body's frontline defenders (macrophages) to clean up cellular debris while supporting healthy lymphocyte counts. Crucially, high-grade extracts minimize Tetracyclic Oxindole Alkaloids (TOAs), ensuring that the positive balancing action of POAs remains uninterrupted.

3. Cellular Antioxidant Defense & DNA Repair

In addition to alkaloids, Cat's Claw bark is rich in carboxy alkyl esters and polyphenolic proanthocyanidins. Clinical trials show that these water-soluble compounds actively support the body's natural enzymatic repair of damaged DNA strands caused by environmental free radicals, helping maintain normal, healthy cell longevity.

Authoritative Scientific & Clinical Citations:

1. Mur, E., Hartig, F., Eibl, G., & Schirmer, M. (2002). Randomized double blind trial of an extract from the pentacyclic alkaloid-chemotype of Uncaria tomentosa for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The Journal of Rheumatology, 29(4), 678–681. PMID: 11950006.
2. Piscoya, J., Rodriguez, Z., Bustamante, S. A., et al. (2001). Efficacy and safety of freeze-dried cat's claw in osteoarthritis of the knee: mechanisms of action of the species Uncaria guianensis and Uncaria tomentosa. Inflammation Research, 50(9), 442–448. doi:10.1007/PL00000268. PMID: 11603848.
3. Sheng, Y., Pero, R. W., Amiri, A., & Bryngelsson, C. (2001). DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study. Phytomedicine, 8(4), 275–282. doi:10.1078/0944-7113-00045. PMID: 11515717.
4. Sandoval-Chacón, M., Thompson, J. H., Zhang, X. J., et al. (1998). Antiinflammatory actions of cat's claw: the role of NF-kappaB. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 12(12), 1279–1289. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2036.1998.00424.x. PMID: 9882039.
5. Lamm, S., Sheng, Y., & Pero, R. W. (2001). Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100. Phytomedicine, 8(4), 267–274. doi:10.1078/0944-7113-00047. PMID: 11515716.

Supplement Facts & Verified Ingredients

NOW Foods adheres to rigorous 21 CFR Part 111 cGMP standards. The label specifications below reflect exact manufacturer formulation data for product code N4628:

Complete Ingredient List:

Active Ingredient: Cat's Claw Extract Complex (Uncaria tomentosa, bark) (minimum 0.9% total oxindole alkaloids).
Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (vegetarian cellulose capsule), Maltodextrin (non-GMO source), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid (vegetable source), and Silicon Dioxide.

Allergen & Dietary Information:

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in an audited GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Non-GMO Project Verified, Vegan/Vegetarian, Kosher (Triangle K), Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, and Gluten-Free.

NOW Foods Laboratory Testing & Contaminant Constraints

Dietary botanicals harvested from wild rain forest environments present real contamination risks if a manufacturer takes shortcuts. NOW Foods operates one of the most comprehensive private analytical testing programs in the nutritional supplement industry to eliminate these risks:

• ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited In-House Labs: NOW employs an expert staff of over 150 analytical chemists, microbiologists, and researchers performing more than 19,000 separate tests each month in cutting-edge, ISO-accredited testing facilities.
• Botanical Identity & Anti-Adulteration (HPTLC): In the herbal trade, authentic Uncaria tomentosa is frequently diluted with low-grade branch wood or adulterated with Uncaria guianensis, which has a drastically different chemical profile. NOW validates botanical identity using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) fingerprinting against verified botanical specimens.
• Ultra-Trace Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS): Rain forest barks can absorb environmental minerals from soil runoff. NOW utilizes Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to screen down to parts-per-billion (ppb) for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Every batch is verified to meet strict international standards and pass rigorous California Proposition 65 limits.
• Pesticide Residue Analysis (LC-MS/MS & GC-MS/MS): Raw plant materials are analyzed using tandem liquid and gas chromatography mass spectrometry to verify the complete absence of agricultural pesticides, synthetic chemicals, and industrial solvents.
• Microbiological Safety: Finished capsules undergo validated testing for pathogenic bacteria (including Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus), mold, and yeast, ensuring zero microbial contamination in the bottle you open.

Usage Guidelines, Timing & Crucial Safety Precautions

Following proper administration guidelines ensures you receive the maximum absorption of beneficial alkaloids while minimizing common digestive sensitivities.

Recommended Daily Protocol:

• Suggested Serving: Take 1 veg capsule 1 to 2 times daily.
• Optimal Meal Timing: Take your capsule with a balanced meal that contains healthy dietary fats (such as avocado, olive oil, or yogurt). The primary oxindole alkaloids are lipophilic (fat-soluble), and taking them with food significantly aids absorption while preventing the mild stomach irritation that high-tannin tree barks can cause on an empty stomach.
• Hydration: Swallow each capsule with a full 8-ounce glass of water.

Precautions & Medical Contraindications:

✓ Autoimmune Conditions: Because Cat's Claw naturally stimulates macrophage and lymphocyte activity, individuals with autoimmune conditions (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, or active rheumatoid arthritis being treated with immunosuppressive biologics) must consult their rheumatologist before use.

✓ Organ Transplant Recipients: Strictly contraindicated. Because Cat's Claw actively supports immune cellular response, it may interfere with medications specifically designed to suppress the immune system to prevent organ rejection (such as cyclosporine or tacrolimus).

✓ Pregnancy & Lactation: Do NOT take this product if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing. Traditional ethnobotanical reports document high-dose Cat's Claw bark used for contraceptive purposes, and safety during pregnancy has not been established.

✓ Blood Pressure Medications: Cat's Claw contains the alkaloid rhynchophylline, which can naturally dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. If you are taking antihypertensive prescription medications, monitor your blood pressure closely with your physician.

✓ Blood Thinners & Upcoming Surgery: Cat's Claw may slightly slow blood clotting. If you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (such as warfarin, aspirin, or Plavix), talk to your physician. Stop taking Cat's Claw at least 14 days before any elective surgical or dental procedure.