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Dietary supplement

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Bluebonnet

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract is a dietary supplement by Bluebonnet with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, immune support.Based on those ingredients, 962 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Cat's Claw bark extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: Cat's Claw bark extract. The extract comes from the bark of a woody vine native to South America and has been used traditionally for various purposes.

The remaining ingredients are inactive — vegetable cellulose (the capsule material) and vegetable magnesium stearate (a flow agent) — and play no therapeutic role.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Cat's Claw's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: help support immune health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), immune function, infection resistance, immune response.
  • The closest evidence on file: Cat's Claw is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Cat's Claw is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The evidence for cat's claw isn't established yet in the data we hold. It's been studied for allergic rhinitis (hay fever), Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome, but in each case the research is too limited or unreliable to say whether it actually works.

If you're thinking about this product for one of those reasons, chat with your pharmacist or doctor about whether the current evidence supports it.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Cat's Claw

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Cat's claw is generally well tolerated in short-term use, but we don't know much about long-term safety. One clinical trial found a small number of participants developed anemia (12%), and fewer had low white blood cell counts or low platelet counts (2% each) — though those patients had advanced cancer with no other options, so it's unclear if cat's claw caused the problem or if it was the disease itself.

Several case reports also link cat's claw to kidney injury, which improved once people stopped taking it. The safety data advises against cat's claw during pregnancy because of its traditional use as an abortifacient and lack of safety testing.

You should also avoid it while breastfeeding — there isn't enough data to know if it's safe for your baby. If you're pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before considering this product.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cat's Claw

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Cat's Claw.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 963 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Double-check this product before starting if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, blood pressure medications or calcium channel blockers, drugs broken down by the CYP3A4 liver enzyme, immunosuppressant medications, or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid). All of these are Moderate severity interactions — worth a conversation with your pharmacist before you add cat's claw to your routine.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Cat's Claw might be worth considering if you're looking for a traditional herbal supplement and have no concerns with the medications you take — but that's a big if. If you're on blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, immune-suppressing medications, or certain other prescriptions, check first.

Skip it entirely if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Dec 13, 2022.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Bluebonnet
Barcode (UPC) 743715013209
Net contents 60 Vegetable Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Dec 13, 2022
DSLD ID 279498
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher, Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
743715013209
IngredientAmount% DV
Cat's Claw bark extract400 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose, Capsule, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Bluebonnet's Cat's Claw Bark Extract Vegetable Capsules are formulated with a full spectrum 5:1 extract of cat's claw bark to help support immune health.

Bluebonnet's KOF-K Certification #K-0000700

K Parve (Kosher)

Formulation

Sustainably wildcrafted

Free of milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Also free of gluten, barley, rice, sodium and sugar.

Made with non GMO ingredients

Gluten free

Vegan

Precautions

Caution: For adults only.

Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

K Parve (Kosher)

Made with non GMO ingredients

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule daily or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Storage

Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place.

See for yourself

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Cat's Claw bark extract

Interacts with
962 drugs
400 mg per serving Form: Hydroethanolic extract

Cat's claw is a South American vine traditionally used for inflammation, joint pain, and immune support. Some small studies hint it may help with arth...

Cat's Claw bark extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose, Capsule, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
962Drugs
962 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Cat's Claw bark extract6 drug types · 962 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, cat's claw may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline. Animal research suggests that these alkaloids can inhibit platelet aggregation. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taking cat's claw with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline. In vitro and animal research suggests that rhynchophylline can lower blood pressure. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Calcium Channel Blockers

Theoretically, taking cat's claw with calcium channel blockers might increase the risk of hypotension.
Cat's claw contains various alkaloids, including rhynchophylline, isorhynchophylline, corynoxeine, and isocorynoxiene. Animal research suggests that these alkaloids can lower blood pressure by acting as calcium channel blockers. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, cat's claw might increase or decrease the levels and effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
Cat's claw may affect the clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. In vitro research shows that cat's claw can inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes. In one case report, a patient taking cat's claw (at an unspecified dose) experienced increased serum levels of atazanavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir, all of which are CYP3A4 substrates. Levels returned to normal 15 days after discontinuation of the cat's claw supplement, suggesting inhibition of CYP3A4 by cat's claw. In contrast, animal research suggests that rhynchophylline, an alkaloid contained in cat's claw, induces CYP3A expression and accelerates the metabolism of nirmatrelvir, the active component in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination product.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Immunosuppressants

Theoretically, cat's claw might interfere with immunosuppressive therapy.
In human and laboratory research, cat's claw has been shown to have immunostimulating activity. It stimulates phagocytosis and increases respiratory cellular activity and the mobility of leukocytes. Theoretically, this could interfere with the activity of immunosuppressant medications.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid)

Theoretically, cat's claw may decrease the levels of nirmatrelvir.
Cat's claw contains rhynchophylline. Animal research suggests that this alkaloid induces CYP3A expression, thereby accelerating the metabolism of nirmatrelvir, the active component in the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination product. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract, from the product label.

Bluebonnet

Name
Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation
Street Address
12915 Dairy Ashford
City
Sugar Land
State
Texas
ZipCode
77478
Web Address
www.bluebonnetnutrition.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet: Common Questions

Does Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract by Bluebonnet interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract has a known interaction with 962 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is cat's claw safe to take long-term?
The supplement is generally well tolerated in short-term use, but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. We don't have solid data on whether it's okay to take it for months or years. Talk with your pharmacist if you're thinking about using it regularly.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or nursing?
No — the safety data advises against it during pregnancy because of traditional use as an abortifacient and lack of safety testing. You should also avoid it while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about alternatives.
What are the side effects?
In a clinical trial, some participants developed anemia, low white blood cell counts, or low platelet counts, though those patients had advanced cancer with no other treatment options, so we can't be sure cat's claw caused it. Case reports have also linked it to kidney injury in a few people. Headache, fatigue, insomnia, and nerve pain were reported by small numbers of trial participants as well.
Does cat's claw actually work?
The evidence isn't established yet. It's been studied for hay fever, Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, and chronic fatigue, but the research is too limited or unreliable to say whether it actually helps. Your pharmacist can help you figure out whether the current evidence supports using it for your particular reason.
What is cat's claw used for?
Traditionally, it's been used for various purposes, but the research supporting those uses is not solid. It comes from the bark of a South American vine that's been part of traditional medicine for centuries, but modern evidence for what it actually does remains insufficient.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Cat's Claw (Una De Gato) Bark Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 16 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Cat's Claw 16 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Budzinski JW, Foster BC, Vandenhoek S, Arnason JT. An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibition by selected commercial herbal extracts and tinctures. Phytomedicine 2000;7:273-82. PubMed
  3. Sandoval M, Charbonnet RM, Okuhama NN, et al. Cat's claw inhibits TNFalpha production and scavenges free radicals: role in cytoprotection. Free Radic Biol Med 2000;29:71-78.
  4. Müller AC, Kanfer I. Potential pharmacokinetic interactions between antiretrovirals and medicinal plants used as complementary and African traditional medicines. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2011;32(8):458-70. PubMed
  5. Sheng, Y., Bryngelsson, C., and Pero, R. W. Enhanced DNA repair, immune function and reduced toxicity of C-MED-100, a novel aqueous extract from Uncaria tomentosa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;69(2):115-126. PubMed
  6. Lamm, S., Sheng, Y., and Pero, R. W. Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100. Phytomedicine 2001;8(4):267-274.
  7. Sheng, Y., Li, L., Holmgren, K., and Pero, R. W. DNA repair enhancement of aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa in a human volunteer study. Phytomedicine 2001;8(4):275-282.
  8. Chen, C. X., Jin, R. M., Li, Y. K., Zhong, J., Yue, L., Chen, S. C., and Zhou, J. Y. Inhibitory effect of rhynchophylline on platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue.Bao. 1992;13(2):126-130.
  9. Flythe, J. E., Rueda, J. F., Riscoe, M. K., and Watnick, S. Silicate nephrolithiasis after ingestion of supplements containing silica dioxide. Am.J.Kidney Dis. 2009;54(1):127-130. PubMed
  10. Zhou, J. and Zhou, S. Antihypertensive and neuroprotective activities of rhynchophylline: the role of rhynchophylline in neurotransmission and ion channel activity. J.Ethnopharmacol. 10-28-2010;132(1):15-27. PubMed
  11. Zhou, J. Y. and Zhou, S. W. Isorhynchophylline: A plant alkaloid with therapeutic potential for cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases. Fitoterapia 2012;83(4):617-626. PubMed
  12. Hemingway, S. R. and Phillipson, J. D. Proceedings: Alkaloids from S. American species of Uncaria (Rubiaceae). J.Pharm.Pharmacol. 1974;26 Suppl:113P.
  13. Hilepo, J. N., Bellucci, A. G., and Mossey, R. T. Acute renal failure caused by 'cat's claw' herbal remedy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Nephron 1997;77(3):361. PubMed
  14. De Paula LCL, Fonseca F, Perazzo F, et al. Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) improves quality of life in patients with advanced solid tumors. J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(1):22-30.
  15. Portalatin G, Shettigar S, Carrion-Rodriguez A, et al. Ketogenic-Diet Shake Containing Uncaria tomentosa-Associated Acute Interstitial Nephritis. Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2022;12(3):219-225.
  16. Lei S, Guo A, Lu J, et al. Activation of PXR causes drug interactions with Paxlovid in transgenic mice. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023;13(11):4502-4510. PubMed

See these in context on the Cat's Claw monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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