Nettle, known for its stinging hairs, is a perennial herbaceous plant with branching rhizome; of upright stems, the leaves are dark green, opposite acuminate and toothed with stipules free. The flowers unisexuadas, tetramer, are grouped in clusters that are hanging longer than the petioles.
Source
The species, nitrophilous, proliferates in the vicinity of residential areas, in piles, ditches and also in hedges, boundaries and forest logging as well as cropland.
Chemical composition
The composition of this species is known only partially.
The roots contain escopoletol, homovainíllico alcohol free and combined with glucose, lignans (diaryl-furans from the series of neo-olivil [798], heterósidos of sitosterol steroids derivatives and 7-ay 7-ß hidroxisitosterol [799], a polysaccharide fraction consists of four different polysaccharides [800] as well as a lectin [800,801] that has a mass on very low [802].
The aerial parts, especially rich in mineral elements (especially iron and silicon), are a source of chlorophyll. Also contain carotenoids, vitamins (especially ascorbic acid), acids, phenols and acids [803] and numerous flavonoids: glycosides and routines in 3 isorramnetol of quercetol of kenferol ... [804]. It has also been isolated from the leaves a water soluble glycoprotein [805]. The stinging hairs contain amines: acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin (2%, 3% and 0.02% respectively). The seeds contain a 25-33% lipids with unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, 80%).
Pharmacological data
Studies in dogs suffering from prostatic hyperplasia, have shown that the roots of nettle can reduce by 70% the initial volume of the prostate [802]. Certain portions of the extract from the root inhibits the growth of human prostate cells, but the mechanism of this action (which may involve lectins) is not known yet. Some authors mention the possibility of an interaction between substances (unknown) present in the nettle and serum proteins normally associate androgens, which interact to induce a change in the concentration of free androgens [806]. During a study on the dietary value of a leaf protein concentrate, we have seen an increase in cholesterol (guinea pig) and a hypertrophy of the kidneys (guinea pig, mouse) [807]. The diuretic action has been observed in a study conducted with an aqueous extract of aerial parts, rat [808].
The polysaccharide fraction of the aqueous extract of the roots is against the anti-inflammatory edema caused by carragenatos in rat paw [800]. The lectin stimulates the proliferation of human lymphocytes.
Observations on the Man
In men have seen an obvious increase of urine volume, a slight decrease in systolic pressure and no change in the ionograms [809]. In other studies carried out in a dozen patients, it is demonstrated that the administration of a preparation of the roots of nettles for two months reduces nocturia, reduces the residual urine after urination and seems to reduce prostate volume seen by ultrasound. This kind of preparation is at least the same activity as those obtained from the bark of Sabal serrulata or the fruits of plum Africa [810].
Employment
Recognizes the following indications: treatment of inflammatory statements of the urinary tract, prevention and treatment of renal stones, should not be used in cases of renal [811]. The extract of the roots were also used in the treatment of benign prostate adenoma. It also presents restorative properties and remineralizing. The acute toxicity of the plant is very low (LD50 of an aqueous extract of aerial parts: 3625 g / kg, mouse, ip [808]).
The drug
The leaves and stems are covered with stinging hairs too, especially abundant at the petiole. The flowers have four sepals and green are grouped in clusters upright (male inflorescences) or curved (female inflorescences). The root, branched, robust, is yellow. The microscopic study of the leaves shows, in addition to epidermal cells with cystoliths, stinging hairs with a cell pointed on a bulb basilar bloated, multicellular. These hairs are fragile and break easily releasing its content which is very irritating.
Bibliography
[798] N. CHAURASIA and M. WICHTL
Lignano Phenylpropane und aus der von Wurzel Urtica dioica
Active biologisch Verbindung aus dem Wasserextrakt von Urtica dioica
Planta Med 55, 452-454, 1989.
[801] W.J. PEUMANS, M. DE LEY and W. Broekaert
An unusual Lectin from Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) rhizomes
FEBS Letter, 177, 99-103, 1984.
[802] H.W. BAUER
Benign Prostatahyperplasie II - Zweite Klinish-experimentelle Konferenz zu Fragen der Prostatahyperplasie benign, Munich, W. Zuckschwerdt Verlag, 1988: cited in H. Schilcher, R. Boesel, S. EFFENBERGER and S. SEGEBRECHT, Neuer Untersuchungsergebnisse mit aquaretisch, antibakteriell und prostatotrop wirksamen Arzneipflanzen, Z. für Phytother., 10, 77-82, 1989.
[803] J. LUTOMSKI and H. SPEICHERT
Die Brennessel in Helikunde und Ernährung. Pharmazie in our Zeit, 12, 181-193, 1983.
[804] N. CHAURASIA and M. WICHTL
Flavonol glycosides from Urtica dioica.
Planta Med., 53, 432-434, 1987.
[805] S. ANDERSEN and J.K. WOLD
Water-soluble glycoprotein from Urtica dioica leaves
Phytochemistry, 17, 1875-1877, 1978.
[806] G. STILLE
Pharmakologie Pflanzliche Prostatapräparate - Rückblick und Ausblilck
Urologist [B], 27, 313-315, 1987. On this topic, refer to an article by H. Schilcher, U. DUNZENDORFER and F. ASCALI, D-7 STEROL, das prostatroped Wirkprinzip in Kürbissamen?, Idid., 27 316 - 319, 1989, and perhaps signal the presence, in both cases (and in the Sabal serrulata) sterol little dfererentes (D - 7 and D-5-hydroxy 7).
[807] R.E. HUGHES, P. ELLERY, T. HARRY, V. And E. JENKINS JONES
The dietary potential of the common Nettle
J. Sci. Food. Agric., 31, 1279-1286, 1980.
[808] B. LASHERAS, P. TURILLAS and E. CENARRUZABEITIA
Etude pharmacologique préliminaire of Prunus spinosa L. Amelanchier ovalis Medikus, Juniperus communis L. and Urtica dioica L.
Plantes Méd. Phytother., 20, 219-226, 1986.
[809] H.W. Kirchhoff
Brennesselsaft als Diuretikum
Z. für Phytother., 4, 621-626, 1983.
[810] P. GOETZE
Die Behandlung mit der Prostatahyperplasie benign Brennesselwurzeln
Z. für Phytother., 10, 175-178, 1989, this work has been completed and translated under the title: Treatment of prostate adenoma with nettle root, in: La revue of phytothérapie practices, (2), 9-13, 1989.
[811] H. Schilcher
Pflanzliche Diuretika
Urologist [B], 27, 215-222, 1987; id., Urtica-art. Die Brennessel, Z. für Phytother., 9, 160-164, 1988.
Diseases whose treatment is appropriate in this plant
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis
Osteoporosis
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