Cat's claw
Cat's claw suppliers and sourcing guide
Cat's claw is Uncaria tomentosa, a woody vine in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) from the Amazon rainforest of Peru and Brazil, with hooked thorns that give it its name. The trade uses the inner bark of the stem and sometimes the root bark, sold dried and milled or as water or hydroalcoholic extracts. Extracts are standardized to oxindole alkaloids or to polyphenols, and some specifications set limits on tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOA).
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Uncaria tomentosa · una de gato · Uncaria guianensis · cat's claw bark
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of cat's claw
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Bark powder
Dried, milled inner bark sold by mesh size, without standardization.
Alkaloid-standardized extract
Extract with a declared percentage of pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids by HPLC, sometimes with a TOA limit.
Aqueous extract
Water extract of the bark, dried to a powder and sold by extract ratio or polyphenol content.
Organic or wild-harvested
Bark from certified organic or documented wild harvest, with collection permits or certificates tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity and species
- HPTLC or HPLC fingerprint to confirm Uncaria tomentosa and distinguish U. guianensis, which is traded under the same common name.
- Oxindole alkaloid assay (HPLC)
- Pentacyclic and tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids by HPLC, with the method named on the COA.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or E. coli, and Salmonella. Raw powders carry more microbial load than extracts and are often steam treated.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, required for organic material and commonly requested for conventional lots.
- Physical tests
- Loss on drying, mesh size, bulk density and extract ratio.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep powders and extracts sealed in lined fiber drums or foil bags in a cool, dry place away from light. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to humid air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
Lots and expiry dates
Alkaloid profile varies with species, chemotype, plant part and harvest, so record species, part and alkaloid results for each lot. Peruvian export permits apply to wild-harvested bark, so keep the documentation with the lot.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Uncaria tomentosa (POL-NF-00765) concerns the bark, stem and root bark and lists them as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Uncaria tomentosa, with the common name cat's-claw, as an approved herbal name.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Cat's claw suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking cat's claw suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell cat's claw? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of cat's claw can brands buy?
Common forms include bark powder, alkaloid-standardized extract, aqueous extract and organic or wild-harvested. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for cat's claw include?
Expect identity and species, oxindole alkaloid assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should cat's claw be stored?
Keep powders and extracts sealed in lined fiber drums or foil bags in a cool, dry place away from light. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to humid air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.
What is the regulatory status of cat's claw?
The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Uncaria tomentosa (POL-NF-00765) concerns the bark, stem and root bark and lists them as not novel in food supplements. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists Uncaria tomentosa, with the common name cat's-claw, as an approved herbal name.
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