Pharmacognostical review of Urtica dioica L.

Abstract

Urtica dioica L. belongs to the family Urticaceae, is a perennial herb commonly known as ‘stinging nettle’. This herb is found in many South Asian Countries, Indian subcontinent and has been known in the world as a medicinal herb for a long time. U. dioica is widely used by the traditional medicinal practitioners for curing various diseases such as nephritis, haematuria, jaundice, menorrhagia, arthritis and rheumatism. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of many valuable chemical compounds like phytosterols, saponins, flavanoids, tannins, proteins and amino acids. The plant also has been used as food, fiber, paint, manure and cosmetics. U. dioica has been reported to have various pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic, anti‑inflammatory, antiviral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anti‑colitis and anticancer effects. The current review summarizes published information about the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicological reports of U. dioica. The present review summarizes all the research work carried out on this plant in order to provide updated information for future works. Key words: Urtica dioica L., Ethanomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology