Biotechnology Unit Research Contributes to the Preservation of the Species Known as “Cat’s Claw”

Unaerp is collaborating with the Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará (Ufopa), the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Environment, and the Archdiocese of Santarém in the production of a germplasm bank aimed at preserving the Uncaria tomentosa species, known as “cat’s claw.” Conducted at the University’s Biotechnology Unit, the study is led by professor and researcher Ana Maria Soares Pereira.
Cat’s claw, currently at risk of extinction, is a medicinal plant of great interest to the Unified Health System (SUS) for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, used in the treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammations. Some seedlings of the species, collected in the Amazon, are preserved in vitro in the Tissue Culture Laboratory, with the aim of being distributed to Living Pharmacies throughout Brazil. An example is the Nature Pharmacy, located in Jurucê, a district of Jardinópolis in the countryside of São Paulo, which produces herbal medicines and provides training for healthcare professionals in the use of medicinal plants.

At risk of extinction, cat’s claw is used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases

The concern for the preservation of the Uncaria tomentosa species is particularly evident due to its inclusion in the National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME), proposed by the Ministry of Health, which is consulted for the acquisition of medicines in the SUS. During a recent visit to Ufopa, Professor Ana Maria presented genotypes preserved in the Biotechnology Unit, through the micropropagation of plant species, with the aim of encouraging large-scale production of the material and, subsequently, the distribution of medicines to the population.
The researcher also states that the research has an impact not only on the conservation of biodiversity but also on the distribution of herbal medicines, bringing benefits both to the environment and to the health of the population. “What we do at Unaerp is a very advanced model of research to directly serve the community that does not have access to quality medicines. The foundations of a University are teaching, research, and extension. This project generates a large number of scientific articles, being very well-applied science that serves, in a special way, the extension, as the medicine reaches the population directly.”

Biotechnology Unit Research Contributes to the Preservation of the Species Known as “Cat’s Claw”

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