Table 1.
Geographical distribution, traditional uses, and pharmacology of Urtica species.
| No. | Species | Geographical distribution | Traditional uses | Pharmacological activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urtica andicola Wedd. | Turkey | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | — |
| 2 | Urtica angustifolia Fisch. ex Hornem. | China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Siberia | None known | Antifatigue |
| 3 | Urtica ardens Link | Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim | Exorcism, jaundice, postcalving care, sprains, bones fracture, hematuria, neck sore, yolk sore | — |
| 4 | Urtica aspera Petrie | New Zealand | Stomach diseases, snakebites, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperplasia, fungal infections | — |
| 5 | Urtica atrichocaulis (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J. Chen | China, Japan, Korea, Himalayas, Pakistan | Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-modulatory | — |
| 6 | Urtica atrovirens Req. ex Loisel | France, Italy, Spain | Antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, hepatic protective, antiviral, arthritis | — |
| 7 | Urtica australis Hook.f. | New Zealand | Skin diseases, diabetes, eczema, fungal infections, arthritis | — |
| 8 | Urtica ballotifolia Wedd. | Colombia, Ecuador | — | — |
| 9 | Urtica berteroana Phil | Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia | — | — |
| 10 | Urtica buchtienii Ross | Chile, Argentina | — | — |
| 11 | Urtica cannabina L. | Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, China, Western Asia from Siberia to Iran | — | Anti-inflammatory |
| 12 | Urtica chamaedryoides Pursh | United States, Mexico | — | — |
| 13 | Urtica circularis Sorarú | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay | — | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| 14 | Urtica deltoidea Sw. | New Zealand | Arthritis, inflammation, antiulcer, anticancer, antimicrobial activities | — |
| 15 | Urtica dentate Hand.-Mazz | North America | Kidney problems, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney calculi | Antiarthritis, antiurolithiatic |
| 16 | Urtica dioica L. | United States, New Zealand, Turkey, Europe, Asia, North America | Injuries to reduce swelling, diuretic, flu, diabetes disease, losing weight, cold, cancers, anemic conditions, libido, induce menstruation, stomach- ache, renal and pulmonary diseases | Antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory antiaging, cytotoxic/anticancer Effect on benign prostatic hyperplasia, antidiabetic, antiendometriosis, nephroprotective |
| 17 | Urtica echinata Benth | Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador | — | — |
| 18 | Urtica ferox Blanco | New Zealand, Australia | Skin problems, hyperglycemic, antiviral, diuretic, hypotensive, antiaggregate | — |
| 19 | Urtica fissa E. Pritz | China, Taiwan, Egypt, Vietnam | Rheumatoid arthritis | — |
| 20 | Urtica flabellata Kunth | Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Turkey | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | — |
| 21 | Urtica galeopsifolia J. Jacq. ex Blume | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus | Renal ailments, asthma, anemia, blood purification | — |
| 22 | Urtica gracilenta Greene | Kidney diseases, diabetes, fungal infections | — | |
| 23 | Urtica glomeruliflora Steud. | Chile | — | |
| 24 | Urtica haussknechtii Boiss. | Turkey | — | |
| 25 | Urtica hyperborea Jacq. exWedd. | Nepal, India, China | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | Antioxidant |
| 26 | Urtica incana Blume | Peru | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | — |
| 27 | Urtica kioviensis Rogow. | Europe, Israel, Russia | Arthritis, hepatic protective, antiviral | — |
| 28 | Urtica lalibertadensis Weigend | Peru | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | — |
| 29 | Urtica laetevirens Maxim. | China, Japan, Korea | Anticancer | |
| 30 | Urtica leptophylla Kunth | Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador | Skin rashes, arthritis, fungal infections | — |
| 31 | Urtica lilloi (Hauman) Geltman | Argentina | — | |
| 32 | Urtica longispica Killip | Ecuador, Peru, Colombia | Cough, eczema, gout, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis | — |
| 33 | Urtica macbridei Killip | Ecuador, Peru | — | |
| 34 | Urtica magellanica Juss. ex Poir. | Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador | Allergy, arthritis | — |
| 35 | Urtica mairei H. Lév. | China, India, Bhutan, Himalaya, Myanmar | Kidney pain. Its extract and paste kidney diseases, diabetes, fungal infections, inflammation, arthritis | Antiprotatic hyperplasia |
| 36 | Urtica masafuerae Phil. | Chile | — | |
| 37 | Urtica massaica Mildbr. | Africa | Skin rashes, malaria, eczema, skin rashes, dermatitis, diuretic | — |
| 38 | Urtica membranacea Poir. ex Savigny | Israeli, Europe, Algeria | — | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| 39 | Urtica mexicana Liebm | Mexico, Guatemala | — | — |
| 40 | Urtica mollis Steud. | Peru, Chile, Argentina | — | — |
| 41 | Urtica morifolia Poir. | Europe | — | — |
| 42 | Urtica orizabae Liebm. | Mexico, United States, Cuba | — | — |
| 43 | Urtica parviflora Roxb. | Nepal, India, United States, Western China, Bhutan, Himalaya | Arthritis, tumor, astringent, diuretic, inflammatory | Nephroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant |
| 44 | Urtica pilulifera L. | Tunisia, Israel, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Turkey, Palestine | Skin and prostate disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, skin treatment, inflammation, arthritis, internal bleeding, anemia, excessive menstruation, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, hay fever, kidney problems, pain, skin problems, abdominal pain, internal diseases, antiasthmatic, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, galactagogue, depurative, antihyperglycemic, antidandruff | Antidiabetic |
| 45 | Urtica platyphylla Wedd. | Japan, Russia | — | — |
| 46 | Urtica praetermissa V.W. Steinm. | Mexico | — | — |
| 47 | Urtica pubescens Ledeb. | Mexico | — | — |
| 48 | Urtica rupestris Guss. | Italy | — | — |
| 49 | Urtica sondenii (Simmons) Avrorin ex Geltman | Canada | — | — |
| 50 | Urtica spiralis Blume | Mexico | — | — |
| 51 | Urtica stachyoidesWebb & Benth. | Spain, Mexico | — | — |
| 52 | Urtica taiwaniana S.S. Ying | Taiwan | — | — |
| 53 | Urtica thunbergiana Siebold & Zucc. | Japan, Korea, China | — | Antiaging |
| 54 | Urtica triangularis Hand.-Mazz. | China | — | — |
| 55 | Urtica trichantha (Wedd.) Acevedo & Navas | Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Japan, China | — | — |
| 56 | Urtica urens L. | Unite States, Mexico, Europe, Israel, New Zealand | Blood depurative, antihypoglycemic, antioxidant, hepatic protective, antiviral, diuretic, hypotensive, antiaggregate, kidney problems | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |