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. 2022 Feb 24;2022:4024331. doi: 10.1155/2022/4024331

Table 13.

In vivo studies of the genus Urtica.

Extract/compound Doses Route of administration Model Effect Reference
Antiarthritis effect
Total coumarins from Urtica dentata Hand 20, 40, 60 mg/kg Orally every other day for 4 weeks after induction of arthritis Collagen-induced arthritis BALB/c mice model Dose-dependent ↓ arthritis score ↓paw swelling protect tissues against bone destruction ↓IFN-g, ↓IL-2 ↑IL-10, ↑TGF-B [63]

Antioxidant effect
Total 80% ethanolic extract of Urtica dioica L. leaves 50, 100 mg/kg Orally daily for 14 days Normal Swiss albino mouse model ↑cytochrome b5, ↑NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, ↑glutathione S-transferase, ↑DT-diaphorase, ↑glutathione peroxidase, ↑glutathione reductase, ↑superoxide dismutase, ↑catalase ↓cytochrome P450, ↓lactate dehydrogenase, ↓NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, ↓total sulfhydryl groups, ↓nonprotein sulfhydryl groups, ↓protein-bound sulfhydryl groups [64]

Antidiabetic effect
Hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of Urtica pilulifera Two doses: 250 and 500 mg/kg Orally daily for 4 weeks starting from day11 of diabetes induction Streptozotocin and high-fat diet-induced type2 diabetes adult male albino rat model Hypoglycemic effect - ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts ↓glucose level, ↓HbA1C, ↓ insulin resistance anti-inflammatory: ↓CRP, ↓TNF-α antioxidant: ↓MDA, ↑GSH, ↑SOD, ↑catalase [65]
ZnO nanoparticles + aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaves ZnO + extract: 8 mg/dl Intraperitoneally daily for 16 days Alloxan-induced diabetic rat model Both ZnO-extract and insulin (reference) ↓fasting blood glucose level in serum, while increased insulin level. ZnO-extract: ↑high-density lipoprotein ↓total cholesterol, ↓triglycerides [66]

Antiendometriosis effect
Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Urtica dioica L. aerial parts 100 mg/kg Orally for 4 weeks Surgery-induced endometriosis rat model Methanol extract: ↓implant volumes, ↓adhesion scores ↓TNF-α, ↓VEGF, ↓IL-6; histopathological outcomes supported the results [67]

Effect on prostate hyperplasia
Polysaccharide fraction of Urtica fissa 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg Orally daily for 3 weeks Testosterone propionate-induced prostate hyperplasia castrated rat model ↓prostate hyperplasia the lowest dose (62.5 mg/kg)-↓ indexes of wet weight,↓ dry weight , ↓volume by 17%, 23% and 32% highest dose (250 mg/kg)-↓indexes of wet weight, dry weight, ↓volume were further reduced by 25%, 33% and 37%; histopathological examination supported the results [68]

Effect on nephrotoxicity
Total 95% ethanol extract of Urtica dioica Dose: 100 mg/kg Orally daily for 10 days Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rabbit model ↓ serum creatinine, ↓blood urea, ↓ nitrogen antioxidant-↑glutathione, ↓malondialdehyde [69]

Antiviral effect
Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) Three doses: 20, 10, 5 mg/kg Intraperitoneally daily for 4 days SARS-CoV- infected BALB/c mouse model Treatment with UDA at dose 5 mg/kg significantly sheltered the mice against lethal infection with the virus but did not decrease virus titers in the lung; prevented weight loss and lung pathology scores of infected mice [70]

Antiaging effect
Total extract (50% ethanol) of Urtica thunbergiana leaves Two doses: 0.1% and 1% g/kg of the animals' dry diet Orally for 10 weeks UVB-induced skin aging hairless mouse model ↓thinner and superficial wrinkles ↓erythema index ↑skin hydration; histopathological investigations supported the results [71]

Anticancer effect
Dichloromethane extract of Urtica dioica Two doses: 10 and 20 mg/kg Intraperitoneally daily for 28 days 4T1 (breast cancer cell line) allograft tumor BALB/c mouse model ↓tumor size and weight. ↑apoptosis, ↓proliferation. ↓Bcl2, ↑caspase 3; histopathology examinations supported the results [72]

Symbols: ↑ increase, ↓decrease.