Nettle (Urtica dioica L.), also known as stinging nettles or itch weed, has been used for hundreds of years to treat a variety of disorders ranging from allergic rhinitis to hypertension.
Nettle is a common and aggressive weed found in moist soils throughout the USA and Europe in addition to being grown commercially. Urtica dioica belongs to the family Urticaceae.
The leaves and glandular hairs on the leaves contain formic acid and histamine which are responsible for the ‘stinging’ and skin irritation that is felt after contact.
Skin reactions of the leaf can vary person to person from mild irritation to severe dermatitis.
Part of plant used:
Leaves *The Nettles root is used for enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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Latin Name:
Urtica Dioica
Chemical Constituents:
Key functional bioactives include:
- Flavonoids (isoquercitin, rutin)
- 4-shogaol
- Piperine
- 8-dehydrogingerdione
- Deoxyharringtonine
- Carnosol
Mechanism of Action
- Histamine receptor 1 (H1) receptor inactivation and inhibition, which blocks histamine production and release;
- Tryptase inhibition, which blocks mast cell degranulation and the subsequent release of cytokines and chemokines that cause allergy symptoms;
- COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition, which blocks prostaglandin formation; and
- Hematopoietic Prostaglandin D2Synthase (HPGDS) inhibition, which specifically blocks Prostaglandin D2 production, a primary pro-inflammatory mediator in allergic rhinitis.
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Clinical Research
A double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial sixty-nine individuals evaluated stinging nettles for allergic rhinitis. Based on a patient diary daily symptoms of allergic rhinitis were reduced with nettles leaf compared to placebo.
Dose
300 mg taken two times daily of freeze dried nettle leaf has been used in clinical studies.
References:
Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael M, Alberte RS. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research. 2009; Volume 23 (Issue 7): Pages 920-6.
Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990; Volume 56 (Issue 1): Pages 44-7.
Anderson BE, Miller CJ, Adams DR. Stinging nettle dermatitis. American Journal of Contact Dermatology. 2003; Volume 14 (Issue 1): Pages 44-6.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Allergies, Antioxidant, Herbal Pharmacology, Inflammation