BACKGROUND AND
OBJECTIVE: Urtica dioica L. (stinging
nettle) is member of the Urticaceae family. This plant has been used for food
and medicine for centuries. Nettle leaf
has a long tradition of use as an adjuvant remedy in the treatment of arthritis. Nettle leaf has traditionally been
used for numerous other conditions, although confirmatory clinical trials have
not been conducted. Gout, hair loss, and mild bleeding are some of the
traditional indications for nettle leaf. Stinging nettle seems to have a lot of
medical uses, but the nettle root is known to be a diuretic and to give relief
from prostate problems. The present review has considered different aspects and
the results of modern studies about this medicinal plant. METHODS: In this paper, using online
databases Iranmedex.com, Sid.ir, PubMed.gov and Sciencedirect.com, articles on
various aspects of medicinal plant stinging nettle was proposed up to 2011,
with using keywords: Urtica dioica L.,
therapeutic effect and medicinal plant were studied. FINDINGS: The findings suggest that relatively extensive
researches have been made in recent decades on the pharmacological effects of
stinging nettles, particularly the effects on diabetes. CONCLUSION: This
plant is used internally and externally as supportive therapy for prostatic
hyperplasia, inflammation, rheumatoid, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes and
allergic rhinitis. However, there
are conflicting reports about the effect of sting nettle on lowering blood
glucose. Therefore, to determine the exact mechanism of action and side effects
of this medicinal plant in the treatment of diabetes, further studies are
needed. |