|
From The May 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News
A Stinger Without Venom
Anthony Almada
Nettle, or stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), is one of the several hundred species of Urtica, which is derived from the Latin uro meaning to burn. Contact with the plant causes a painful skin allergy, but plant extracts have been used to treat arthritis and benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH).
To date there are no completed, controlled human trials supporting the efficacy of the nettle extract for arthritis.1 However, lab and human studies have shown such extracts display anti-inflammatory actions.2,3
Nettle extracts have also been used for BPH, but again, there are no controlled studies published in English documenting nettle's effectiveness.4 Recent in vitro studies also suggest nettle extract may have an effect on prostate cancer cells.5 Results from test tube studies are inconclusive about how the herb may or may not work.6,7 Nettle has promising plant properties that need further research before the herb can be readily recommended for arthritis or BPH.
Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and has collaborated on more than 50 university-based clinical trials. He is the co-founder of EAS and founder and chief scientific officer of IMAGINutrition.
References
1. Chrubasik S, Eisenberg E. Treatment of rheumatic pain with kampo medicine in Europe. Part 2. Urtica dioica. Pain Clinic 1999;11(3):179-85.
2. Riehemann K, et al. Plant extracts from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), an antirheumatic remedy, inhibit the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-kappaB. FEBS Lett 1999;442(1):89-94.
3. Teucher T, et al. Cytokine secretion in whole blood of healthy volunteers after oral ingestion of an Urtica dioica L. leaf extract. Arzneimittel forschung 1996;46(9):906-10.
4.Sokeland J. Combined sabal and urtica extract compared with finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: analysis of prostate volume and therapeutic outcome. BJU Int 2000;86(4):439-42.
5. Konrad L, et al. Antiproliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells by a stinging nettle root (Urtica dioica) extract. Planta Med 2000;66(1):44-7.
6. Goepel M, et al. Saw palmetto extracts potently and noncompetitively inhibit human alpha1-adrenoceptors in vitro. Prostate 1999;38(3):208-15.
7. Hryb DJ, et al. The effect of extracts of the roots of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on the interaction of SHBG with its receptor on human prostatic membranes. Planta Med 1995;61(1):31-2.
|
