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Radix Urticae
Uses described in folk medicine, not supported by experimental
or clinical data
Treatment of asthma, coughs, dandruff, diabetes, diarrhoea, eczema, fever,
gout, haemorrhoids, nose bleeds, scurvy, snakebites and tuberculosis (5,
6). The plant has also been used to stop uterine bleeding after childbirth,
increase lactation and promote hair growth, and as a vermifuge (5, 6).
Pharmacology
Experimental pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory activity
An ethanol extract of Radix Urticae inhibited the activity of human leukocyte
elastase and reduced the amount of the enzyme released by activated
polymorphonuclear granulocytes during the inflammatory response.
The extract also inhibited degradation of a peptide substrate in
vitro by human leukocyte elastase (IC 50
3.6 µg/ml) and bovine elastin
(IC 50
68 µg/ml) (36). Intragastric administration of a polysaccharide fraction
isolated from Radix Urticae to rats (40 mg/kg body weight) suppressed
carrageenan-induced footpad oedema for up to 20 h (21, 37). The
activity of the polysaccharides was comparable to that of indometacin
(10 mg/kg body weight) (21, 37).
Lymphocyte proliferation
A lyophilized aqueous extract (10 µg/ml) and a 40% alcohol extract of the
roots (100 µg/ml) stimulated human lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by
63% and 100%, respectively (21, 37). Polysaccharides isolated from an
aqueous root extract induced human lymphocyte proliferation in vitro
(10–100 µg/ml) (21, 37). An ethyl acetate extract of the roots induced cell
differentiation in human promyelocytic leukaemia HL-60 cells in vitro
(ED 50
4 µg/ml) (38). Urtica dioica agglutinin (500 ng/ml), however, inhibited
lymphocyte proliferation and the binding of epidermal growth factor
to its receptor on A431 epidermoid cancer cells in vitro (39). The lectin
also exhibited immunomodulatory effects on T-lymphocytes in a dosedependent
manner (21, 37). Urtica dioica agglutinin bound to the cell
membrane of prostatic hyperplastic cells (40) and inhibited their proliferation
(21).
Effect on benign prostatic hyperplasia
Effect on sex hormone-binding globulin
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a blood plasma protein that
binds to circulating androgens and estrogens, thereby regulating their free
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