Urtica dioica seed extracts. (c2007)

Abstract

The importance of herbal medicine has grown tremendously over the last few decades. In the present study, aqueous and polyphenol extracts of Urtica Dioica seeds were investigated for their potential role in lipemia, glycemia, inflammation and gastric ulcer using the rat as a model. After one month of intake of a high fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids, aqueous but not polyphenol extract was able to significantly improve serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDLIHDL ratio. However, both extract were able to reduce in a dose dependent manner serum glucose levels. Significance was reached with the highest dose used (250 mg/kg body weight). Serum insulin concentrations were not significantly affected although a slight general reduction in insulin levels was observed. Data suggest that the drop in serum glucose is attributed to an improved cellular sensitivity to insulin. Liver enzymes activities (SGPT, SGOT) were not affected by any of the extract intake at the end of the study period, indicating safety of the extracts. In addition, both extracts exhibited a significant dose dependent protection against ethanol induced gastric ulcer. U. Dioica seed water extract showed significant anti-inflammatory effects with both models of acute and chronic inflammation induced by carrageenan and formalin respectively. However, polyphenol extract showed some potential anti-inflammatory activity only at the lowest dose used, and as the extract dose increases the extract turned to be an inducer of inflammation rather than an inhibitor in both acute and chronic types of inflammation. In Conclusion, the aqueous extracts of Urtica Dioica seeds has promising effects in improving lipidemia and glycemia while demonstrating an antiinflammatory potential and gastroprotective role against ethanol-induced ulcer. The use of polyphenol extract proved to be less valuable medicinally since it only reduced blood glucose level and showed some protection against ethanol-induced ulcer.