Sys Rev Pharm.

Plant review
A multifaceted Review journal in the field of Pharmacy

Urtica dioica L., (Urticaceae): A Stinging Nettle

ABSTRACT
Urtica dioica L., is a perennial herb with a long history of traditional me- that the potential use of this plant for the future drug.
dicinal uses in many countries in the world, especially in the tropical and Key words: Uritca dioica, Stinging nettle, Phytochemistry.
subtropical regions. A wide range of chemical compounds including flavo- Abbreviations used: BPH: Benign prostatic hyperplasia, NF-B Nuclear
noids, agglutins, lignans, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and terpenoids factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, DNA: Deoxyribo-
have been isolated from this species. Extracts and metabolites from this nucleic acid, GC-MS: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, HPLC:
plant have been found to possess various pharmacological activities. In High-performance liquid chromatography, CO2: Carbon dioxide, CST: Glu-
recent years, there has been growing interest in alternative therapies and tathione S-transferase, DTD: DT-diaphorase, SOD: Superoxide dismutase,
the therapeutic use of natural products, especially those derived from natu- CAT: Catalase.
ral products. Based on literature, U. dioica and its phytoconstituents were
reported for various pharmacological activities which includes hypoglyce- Correspondence:
mic and anti-inflammatory activities. A thorough review is required to avoid Dr. S. Parasuraman
repetition of future research on this plant. Further, this review will also help Unit of Pharmacology,
to continue research based on previous reports. This review will also pro- Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University,
vide comprehensive information on U. dioica which could be useful article Bedong 08100, Kedah, Malaysia.
for researchers on this plant. The comprehensive account of the chemical Email: [email protected]
constituents and the biological activities are presented in this review such DOI :10.5530/srp.2014.1.3

INTRODUCTION
Nettle, or stinging nettle, is a perennial plant growing in temperate and
tropical wasteland areas around the world. It grows 2 to 4 meters high
and produces pointed leaves and white to yellowish flowers and it be-
longs to the family of Urticaceaea.1 The genus name Urtica comes from
the Latin verb urere, meaning to burn, because of these stinging hairs.
The species name dioica means two houses because the plant usually
contains either male or female flowers. Nettle has a well-known reputa-
tion for giving a savage sting when the skin touches the hairs and bristles
on the leaves and stems.2 In the last few years, Urtica dioica L., has been
accepted as a healing plant because of its considerable effects on human
health in many countries all over the world.2-4
Urtica dioica with flowers
TAXONOMY
finely toothed, dark green above and paler beneath. The flowers are in
Kingdom- Plantae - Plants Reddish-brown to greenish-white colour. The small, green, dioecious
Subkingdom- Tracheobionta - Vascular plants flowers occur as racemes in the axils of the upper leaves. Usually, the
Superdivision- Spermatophyta - Seed plants plant has either male or female flowers, in separate inflorescences, hence
Division- Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants the specific name of the plant, dioica. U. dioica flowers from May to Sep-
Class- Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons tember every year.6
Subclass- Hamamelidae
TRADITIONAL USES
Order- Urticales
U. dioica have a long history of use in the household home remedies and
Family- Urticaceae - Nettle family
nutritious diet. The powered leaf extract used as antihemorrhagic agent
Genus- Urtica L. to reduce excessive menstrual flow and nose bleedings. This plant was
Species- Urtica dioica L., - stinging nettle P[5] used for the treatment of arthritis, anemia, hay fever and used as diuret-
ics, astringents and blood builders in folk medicine.7,8 Traditionally, a
PLANT PROFILE tea made from the leaves of U. dioica has been used as a cleansing tonic
U. dioica is originally from the colder regions of northern Europe and and blood purifier.9 Externally, this plant is used to treat skin complaints,
Asia, today this herbaceous shrub grows all over the world. Stinging gout, sciatica, neuralgia, haemorrhoids, hair problems etc.9-10 For medic-
nettle grows well in nitrogen-rich soil, blooms between June and Sep- inal purposes, the plant is harvested between May and June of every year
tember of every year, and reaches nearly 3 feet high. The stem is erect as it is coming into flower and dried for later use.
and green, the leaves are opposite, cordate at the base, oblong or ovate, The root has a beneficial effect upon enlarged prostate glands and it is

Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 5, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2014 6

used for the treatment of rheumatic gout, nettle rash and chickenpox, for the hypotensive action of U. dioica.23 The aqueous extract of U. dio-
externally is applied to bruises.11 ica also studied for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic
The plant has been widely used by herbalists around the world for cen- properties and the study was concluded for the presence of antioxidant
turies. In the first century, Greek physicians Pedanius Dioscorides and properties, antimicrobial activity, antiulcer activity and analgesic effect.24
Galen reported the leaf of U. dioica had diuretic and laxative properties In another study the U. dioica roots extract hypotensive effects by de-
and was useful for treatment of asthma, pleurisy and spleen illnesses. The crease of vascular pressure.25
nettle leaves is used as a nutritious supplement and as weight loss aid.12 Phytochemistry
Now- a-days, in Germany this plant was sold as herbal drug for prostate
The seeds and leaves of U. dioica contain vitamins, minerals and amino
diseases and as a diuretic.13
acids.1 Chemical interest in U. dioica was stimulated by reports that they
cause irritation when comes in contact with skin. The leaves of U. dio-
GENERAL USES
ica possess sharp spines with stinging hairs that contains histamine and
Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat rheumatism, formic acid, which causes irritation.1 Many compounds were previously
arthritis, gout, eczema, anemia, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, isolated by different researchers on U. dioica, viz., phytocsterols2, lig-
hay fever and early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic nans2, carotenoids3, fatty acids4, phenolics5 etc.
hyperplasia or BPH). Recent laboratory studies and clinical studies on The leaves of U. dioica are being used a s herbal tea for the treatment
antirheumatic activity on stinging nettle showed possible antiarthritic of different ailments, such as hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia
activity. Riehemann et al., reported the inhibition of NF-B activation etc. the leaves were reported to contain caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid6,
(protein complex that controls transcription of DNA and cytokine pro- high content of chlorophyll and other pigments.26 Phytochemical litera-
duction) and Randall et al., reported the clinical possible antiarthritic ture on U. dioica gave a weak indication for the presence of alkaloids,
activity of stinging nettle.14,15 there are no reports published elsewhere.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Rhizomes of U. dioica are found to contain agglutin, a series of long
Reports claim that as many as 80% of European men with BPH are given chain amino acid linkages.8 The structure of agglutin was also confirmed
the option of herbal remedies for their symptoms, including saw palmet- as a member of proteins family with two hevein like domains present
to and stinging nettle roots, rather than medication or surgery.16 Studies in each subunit.7 Studies on phytochemical investigations showed the
in people suggest that the root of the stinging nettle, in combination with leaves and rhizomes are rich in phenolic compounds.10 It was reported to
other herbs especially saw palmetto, may be an effective treatment for contain different cinnamic acid derivatives, coumarins and homovanil-
BPH, relieving urinary symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incom- lyl alcohol, some of the phenolic compounds were studied in derivatized
plete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant form using trimethyl silyl esters in GC-MS analysis.11 The derivatization
urge to urinate. of phenolic compounds yielded 34 compounds and structures were in-
terpretated by using mass fragemntation, retention time and compared
Others: In animal studies, nettle has been shown to have anti-inflamma-
with commercially avaliable compounds. Some of the compounds were
tory and hypoglycemic effects. The hydro-alcoholic extract of U. dioica
identified as homovanillyl alcohol, vanillin, vanillic acid, (+) isolaricini-
at 100 and 200 mg/kg showed significant antidiabetic effect against fruc-
resinol, (-) secolaricinresinol. Methylated derivatives of phenolic com-
tose induced diabetics.17 Active compounds in stinging nettle may act as
pounds and flavonoids from U. dioica and with other plants were pre-
an expectorant (meaning that it can loosen and break up a cough) and
pared by using methyl iodide, and subjected chromatographic analysis.
have antiviral properties.18
Based on derivatization, GC-MS analysis of U. dioica methanloic leaf
Nettle may also be effective for treating certain individuals with allergic extract resulted in the presence of 3.0 ng/mg of homo vanillic acid, 2.5
rhinitis (hay fever). This traditional use has had a lot of historical value ng/mg of vanillic acid, 43.65 ng/mg of 4-hydroxy cinnamic acid and 574
for individuals. Early studies of people suggest that this historic use is ng/mg of ferulic acid.27
likely scientifically valid. However, while the studies thus far have been
Aqueous extract of U. dioica leaves yielded two major fractions on pre-
favorable, they have not been overwhelmingly so.
parative HPLC analysis using Sephadex column. One of the fractions
was found to contain a mixture of carbohydrates and proteins called
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY glycoprotein.28 Blumenthal et al., were made an attempt to study the
In pre-clinical animal experiments U. dioica along with Nigella sativa re- link between protein and carbohydrate by hydrolysing with sodium
duced carbon tetrachloride induced elevated levels of serum potassium hydroxide and sodium borohydride. Results indicated that the protein
and calcium levels and decreased the levels of red blood cells, weight and carbohydrate are connected with via serine and O-galactosidic
blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin levels.19 Turkdogan et linkages, further methylation indicated the nettle glycoproteins were
al., and Kanter et al., also reported the hepatoprotective effects of N. sati- branched and indicated the presence of 3,5 and 2, 5 di-o-methyl arabi-
va and U. dioica in carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis and cirrho- nose is linked with 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4/5 arabinose, whereas unbranched
sis model.20,21 In another study, the effects of ethanol-water (80%-20%) galactose are connected mainly 1-3 and some 1-4 and 1-6 linkages.
extract of U. dioica. and butylated hydroxyanisole were investigated, for However the second fractiopn was unsuccesssful in its methylation
phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, lactate dehydroge- process.28 The roots of U. dioica showed the presence of trans neo-olivil,
nase, lipid peroxidation and sulfhydryl groups in the liver of Swiss albino a lignans glycoside.29-33
mice. It was found that extract was effective in inducing GST, DTD, SOD The leaves of U. dioica were used in animal husbandry traditionally, vari-
and CAT activity.22 ous reports indicated the carotenoids and chlorophyll are used to im-
The aqueous extract of U. dioica is characterized for the specific cardiac prove full productive of animals.34 The traditional methods for extrac-
and vascular effects using isolated Langendorff perfused rat heart, and tion from plant material include steam distillation, soxhlet percolation
it produced a vasoconstriction of the aorta which is due to activation of using organic solvents, perhaps these procedures have lots of disadvan-
alpha1-adrenergic receptors. However, aqueous extract of U. dioica also tages such as degradation, loss of biologically active compounds, dura-
induced a strong bradycardia through non-cholinergic and non-adren- tion etc. Sovova et al utilized supercritical fluid extraction using liquid
ergic pathways that might compensate for its vascular effect and account CO2 inorder to isolate carotenoids and chlorophyll from the leaves of U.

Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, Vol 5, Issue 1, Jan-Dec, 2014 7

dioica.35 HPLC analysis of extracts resluted maximum yields of chloro- was used for the treatment of arthritis and this plant is showed presence
phyll a, chlorophyll b, beta carotene, and lutein. This report evidenced of antiasthmatic, antidandruff, astringent, depurative, diuretic, galacto-
the presence of abundant chlorophyll and beta carotene in the leaves of gogue, haemostatic and hypoglycaemic activities in pre-clinical experi-
U. dioica. ments. This plant has been long used in traditional medicine and food
supplement by native Americans and Europeans. The biological activi-
CONCLUSION ties on traditional claims about this plant are not clear. Exploration of
U. dioica have rich medicinal value and this plant is most commonly pharmacological and toxicological properties of U. dioica and its phyto
used to cure much of inflammatory disorders. In folk medicine this plant constituents are required to support its traditional climb.

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