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Research: GONCALVES and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 117
Abstract
GONCALVES and colleagues, Laboratorio de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmacia and Centro de Estudos Farmaceuticos, Universidade de Coimbra, 3000-295 Coimbra, Portugal, have studied the antioxidant properties of the pro-anthocyanidins exptracted from the bark of Cat's Claw.
Background
Decoctions prepared from the bark of Uncaria tomentosa are widely used in the traditional Peruvian medicine as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. The main purpose of this study was to determine if the well-known anti-inflammatory activity of Cat's Claw decoction was related to its reactivity with the oxidant species generated in the inflammatory process.
Methodology
Laboratory study using biochemical methods.
Results
The decoction prepared according to traditional Peruvian medicine had powerful antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties. Analysis of the decoction revealed the presence of proanthocyanidins (oligomeric procyanidins) and phenolic acids, mainly caffeic acid.
Conclusion
This study supports the role of proanthocyanidins as powerful antioxidant agents.
References
Goncalves C, Dinis T, Batista MT. Antioxidant properties of proanthocyanidins of Uncaria tomentosa bark decoction: a mechanism for anti-inflammatory activity. Phytochemistry 66 (1): 89-98, Jan 2005.
