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Dietary supplement

Saventaro Cat's Claw Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Integrative Therapeutics

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

Saventaro Cat's Claw is a dietary supplement by Integrative Therapeutics 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 POA Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (pentacyclic chemotype) (Saventaro brand) root extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics

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.

Saventaro Cat's Claw contains one active ingredient: a root extract from Uncaria tomentosa (a tropical vine), standardized to the pentacyclic alkaloid chemotype and branded as Saventaro. The capsule also contains inactive ingredients—cellulose, a vegetable capsule shell, calcium carbonate, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide—which are fillers and binders.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
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 assessable

This is a single-ingredient Cat's Claw product and its label doesn't state a use — see Cat's Claw's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for cat's claw isn't established in our data. We hold insufficient reliable evidence to rate it for allergic rhinitis (hay fever), Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

If you're considering it for a specific health reason, that's worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist, who can weigh what research exists outside our monographs.

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 in healthy adults, but long-term safety hasn't been well studied. In one clinical trial of patients with advanced cancer taking cat's claw, a small number experienced blood count changes—anemia in 12% of participants and low white blood cell counts or low platelets in 2% each—along with headache, fatigue, insomnia, and nerve damage in varying percentages.

Because these patients had serious disease with no other treatment options and there was no control group, it's unclear how much was due to cat's claw itself. Several case reports link cat's claw to kidney injury.

One patient with lupus developed acute kidney failure that improved after stopping it; another developed kidney inflammation after consuming keto shakes containing cat's claw. The safety data advises against cat's claw during pregnancy because of its traditional use to induce miscarriage and lack of safety data.

Avoid it while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information.

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.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on blood pressure medications or calcium channel blockers (both could lower your pressure too much), blood thinners (anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs), immunosuppressants, drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 (a large group that includes many statins, antihistamines, and others), or Paxlovid. These are moderate-severity interactions that warrant a conversation before you start.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Saventaro Cat's Claw may be worth considering if you're interested in its traditional use, but evidence for specific conditions isn't established in our data. The main concern is its moderate interactions with blood pressure medications, blood thinners, drugs your liver processes via CYP3A4, immunosuppressants, and Paxlovid.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, especially if you take any of those medication types—they'll help you decide if it's right for you.

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 Jan 25, 2018.

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 Saventaro Cat's Claw, straight from the product label.

Brand Integrative Therapeutics
Barcode (UPC) 871791000780
Net contents 90 Veg Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 25, 2018
DSLD ID 78236
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar 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 Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics, 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)
UPC/BARCODE
871791000780
IngredientAmount% DV
POA Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (pentacyclic chemotype) (Saventaro brand) root extract20 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Vegetable Capsule, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide

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.
Brand IP Statement(s)

Protected by U.S. patents 5,723,625 and 7,238,374. Additional patents pending.

Saventaro is a registered trademark of IMMODAL Pharmaka GmbH (Austria), and is made in the USA under license from IMMODAL.

2014 Integrative Therapeutics, LLC

Formulation

Contains no sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, dairy products, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, preservatives, or ingredients of animal origin.

General

LZ79859.A01 (BLK985A)

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommendations: Take 1 capsule three times daily for the first 10 days, and 1 capsule daily thereafter, or as recommended by your healthcare professional.

Precautions

If pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs, consult your healthcare professional prior to use.

See for yourself

Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics

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

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

20 mg per serving Form: Pentacyclic Oxindole Alkaloids

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...

POA Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (pentacyclic chemotype) (Saventaro brand) root extract monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Saventaro Cat's Claw?

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

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Saventaro Cat's Claw 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.

POA Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (pentacyclic chemotype) (Saventaro brand) root 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 Saventaro Cat's Claw, from the product label.

Integrative Therapeutics

See all Integrative Therapeutics products
Name
Integrative Therapeutics, LLC
City
Green Bay
State
WI
ZipCode
54311
Phone Number
800.931.1709
Web Address
integrativepro.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics: Common Questions

Does Saventaro Cat's Claw by Integrative Therapeutics interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Saventaro Cat's Claw 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?
Saventaro Cat's Claw 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 while I'm pregnant?
The safety data advises against it. Cat's claw has a traditional history of being used to induce miscarriage, and there isn't enough safety information about it in pregnancy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Can I breastfeed while taking this?
There isn't enough safety data to know either way. The facts don't provide guidance on breastfeeding use, so it's best to ask your doctor or pharmacist to help you decide what's safe for you and your baby.
Does cat's claw actually work for what it claims?
The evidence we hold isn't strong enough to rate it for any specific condition—including hay fever, Alzheimer disease, asthma, osteoporosis, cancer, or chronic fatigue. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, only that we don't have reliable evidence on file. Your doctor or pharmacist can fill you in on any research beyond our data.
What side effects has cat's claw caused in studies?
In one trial of advanced-cancer patients, changes in blood counts (anemia, low white blood cells, low platelets), headache, fatigue, insomnia, and nerve damage occurred in small numbers of participants. It's unclear how much was from cat's claw versus the disease itself, since the study had no control group. Several case reports also link it to kidney injury, though this is rare.
How long can I safely take cat's claw?
Cat's claw is generally well tolerated in the short term, but how safe it is over the long term isn't well studied. If you're planning to take it regularly or long-term, check in with your doctor or pharmacist about what we know and what we don't.

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

Not sure if Saventaro Cat's Claw is safe with your meds?

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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.

Saventaro Cat's Claw label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Saventaro Cat's Claw’s Ingredients

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

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Saventaro Cat's Claw'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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