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Uncaria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Uncaria gambir
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Uncaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, native to Asia, Africa, and South America. They are known colloquially as Gambier, Cat's Claw or Uña de Gato.
Malaysian Gambier (U. gambir) is a large tropical vine with typical leaves, which are opposite and about 10 cm long. At the base of the leaves is a cat-like claw, so the South American U. tomentosa is called Uña de Gato. There is also a Chinese species, U. sinensis. The flowers also originate at the base of the leaves; each pair of leaves may have a pair of globular inflorescences.
- Selected species
- Uncaria elliptica R.Br. & G. Don (Malaysia)
- Uncaria gambir Roxb. - Gambier (Malaysia)
- Uncaria guianensis J.F.Gmel. (Guyana)
- Uncaria hirsuta Havil.
- Uncaria homomalla Miq. (East India, Malaysia)
- Uncaria macrophylla Wall. (SE Asia)
- Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks. (China)
- Uncaria scandens (Sm.) Hutch.
- Uncaria sessilifructus Roxb.
- Uncaria setiloba Benth.
- Uncaria sinensis (Oliv.) Havil. (syn. Nauclea sinensis)
- Uncaria tomentosa DC - Cat's Claw (South America)
- Uncaria wangii How
Gambier is used in Malaysia for chewing with areca and betel, for tanning, and for dyeing.
Cat's claw and the Chinese species are used medicinally. The glycosidic compounds have recognized anti-inflammatory properties, while the alkaloids increase the reactivity of lymphocytes, granting higher response to viral infection. Cat's claw has two varieties depending on whether the alkaloids have four rings or five. The five-ring alkaloid variety is medicinal and is called "savéntaro" by the Asháninka.
Gambier is an extract of the leaves of the plant Uncaria Gambier found in Indonesia. Gambier is widely used for Leather Tanning, as Eco friendly dyes and as Mouth Freshener. Gambier contains many catechins which are known to have many medicinal properties. Gambier is used as an ingredient in many ancient Chinese herbal recipes still being widely used. Catechin extracted from gambier is used in many modern medicines.
To make gambier, the leaves are first boiled in water. After few hours of boiling, the leaves absorb a lot of water and become brownish in color. The leaves are then pressed mechanically to squeeze and extract liquid. This liquid is then dried and the resulting substance is a semi solid paste. This semi solid paste is then converted to cube form by manual process. The cubes are then sun dried. When cubes are fully dried they are sorted out and packed for delivery. Gambier is generally packed in 50 kg nett multilayered packing (PP Bags inside and gunny bags outside).