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Phase II Pilot Clinical Study of the Use of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) Combined with Paullinia cupana (Guarana) for the Treatment of Symptoms in Terminal Cancer Patienna (Guarana) for the Treatment of Symptoms in Terminal Cancer Patients


Affiliations
1 Medical School of the Fundacao ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo Andre, Brazil
2 Medical School of the Fundação ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo André, Brazil
 

Previous studies in patients with advanced cancer have reported that Cat’s claw dry extract (Uncaria tomentosa) and Guarana (Paullinia cupana) showed beneficial effects in patients with terminal cancer. Our objective is to investigate the combined action of these extracts in the control of symptoms in these patients. This prospective, uncontrolled pilot study evaluated the use of 100 mg of U. tomentosa dry extract three times daily combined with 50 mg of P. cupana dry extract twice daily in terminal patients with solid tumors who were ineligible for traditional therapeutic approaches. Patients had blood collected and answered questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, FACIT-F, Chalder Fatigue Scale, HADS and PSQI-BR) before and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. Twenty-two volunteers were recruited; the mean age of the population was 68.3 years (range, 49-89 years), 86.3% were men, and half had a Karnofsky Index less than or equal to 60%. We observed improvement in fatigue, measured by the Chalder Scale (p = 0.0041), and nausea, measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale (p = 0.0470), without significant weight loss (p = 0.3883) or influence on quality of life as measured by the FACIT-F questionnaire (p = 0.3375). Medications were well tolerated by most participants. No significant reduction in inflammatory parameters was observed during the treatment. The combination of U. tomentosa and P. cupana extracts is safe and has potential benefits for the control of fatigue and nausea in terminal cancer patients.

Keywords

Cancer, Clinical Trial, Palliative Care, Paullinia cupana, Uncaria tomentosa.
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  • Phase II Pilot Clinical Study of the Use of Uncaria tomentosa (Cat’s Claw) Combined with Paullinia cupana (Guarana) for the Treatment of Symptoms in Terminal Cancer Patienna (Guarana) for the Treatment of Symptoms in Terminal Cancer Patients

Abstract Views: 318  |  PDF Views: 181

Authors

Lais Beltrao Magalhaes
Medical School of the Fundacao ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo Andre, Brazil
Fernando Fonseca
Medical School of the Fundacao ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo Andre, Brazil
Daniel Cubero
Medical School of the Fundação ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo André, Brazil
Auro Del Giglio
Medical School of the Fundação ABC (ABC Foundation), Santo André, Brazil

Abstract


Previous studies in patients with advanced cancer have reported that Cat’s claw dry extract (Uncaria tomentosa) and Guarana (Paullinia cupana) showed beneficial effects in patients with terminal cancer. Our objective is to investigate the combined action of these extracts in the control of symptoms in these patients. This prospective, uncontrolled pilot study evaluated the use of 100 mg of U. tomentosa dry extract three times daily combined with 50 mg of P. cupana dry extract twice daily in terminal patients with solid tumors who were ineligible for traditional therapeutic approaches. Patients had blood collected and answered questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30, FACIT-F, Chalder Fatigue Scale, HADS and PSQI-BR) before and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. Twenty-two volunteers were recruited; the mean age of the population was 68.3 years (range, 49-89 years), 86.3% were men, and half had a Karnofsky Index less than or equal to 60%. We observed improvement in fatigue, measured by the Chalder Scale (p = 0.0041), and nausea, measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale (p = 0.0470), without significant weight loss (p = 0.3883) or influence on quality of life as measured by the FACIT-F questionnaire (p = 0.3375). Medications were well tolerated by most participants. No significant reduction in inflammatory parameters was observed during the treatment. The combination of U. tomentosa and P. cupana extracts is safe and has potential benefits for the control of fatigue and nausea in terminal cancer patients.

Keywords


Cancer, Clinical Trial, Palliative Care, Paullinia cupana, Uncaria tomentosa.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/jnr%2F2018%2F21665