Potential Anti-diabetic Effects and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Urtica dioica Collected from Narok County, Kenya

Abstract

Drug bio screening for potential anti-diabetics is scientifically motivated by the desire to discover newer, safer and affordable drugs that complement conventional strategies for management of diabetes. Urtica dioica grows naturally in many parts of Africa with a wide variety use in traditional medicine and diet. However, scientific validation for use of U. dioica has not been done for anti-diabetic activity. The aim of the study was to determine the antidiabetic effects of aqueous extracts of U. dioica in alloxan induced mice and the safety of U. dioica on mice models. The plant extracts were administered orally at doses of 25 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg which is the common route used in traditional herbal medicine administration. Evaluation for toxicity was determined at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of U. dioica. The results from the study indicated that the plant extracts exhibited insulin mimetic anti-diabetic activity. Evaluation for toxicity also indicated that a dose of 1000 mg/kg bw preserved the integrity of liver, kidney and lipid profiles for biochemical markers. Moreover, there was no significant change in the hematological and leucocyte counts. There was no significant change in gross body weight, organ body weight and histopathological changes on tissues of the body organs in this study. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of aqueous leaf extracts of U. dioica indicated the presence of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Various levels of different mineral elements were also recorded. In conclusion, this study confirmed that U. dioica at a dose of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg body weights possessed anti-diabetic activity. It is also safe for use at a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight. More studies should be explored on the potential anti-diabetic effects using other routes of administration. Page 2 of 8Citation: Mukundi MJ, Mwaniki NEN, Piero NM, Murugi NJ, Kelvin JK, et al. (2017) Potential Anti-diabetic Effects and Safety of Aqueous Extracts of Urtica dioica

Urtica spp.: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Properties

“…In addition, as organic nitrogenous compounds, amino acids from nettles are building blocks in the process of protein biosynthesis [ 85 ]. The safety of aqueous extracts of U. dioica and their antidiabetic effects have been confirmed with mice models [ 86 ].…”

Urtica dioica Whole Vegetable as a Functional Food Targeting Fat Accumulation and Insulin Resistance-a Preliminary Study in a Mouse Pre-Diabetic Model

“…dioica extract has been studied for several different disease conditions including autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergy, eczema, atherosclerosis, cancer, as well as age-related degenerative brain disorders. It has also been studied for alleviating bladder disorders, hemorrhaging and inflammation [4][5][6]. More recent studies show that U. dioica extract possess anti-diabetic properties [5][6][7].…”

“…It has also been studied for alleviating bladder disorders, hemorrhaging and inflammation [4][5][6]. More recent studies show that U. dioica extract possess anti-diabetic properties [5][6][7]. A comprehensive review on studies using the extract as intervention for diabetes shows that over 21 studies [7].…”

Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Methanolic Extracts of Urtica dioica L. by Different Extraction Techniques

“…The nettle leaves contain a significant number of biologically active compounds, such as terpenoids, carotenoids including β-carotene, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein and lycopene, fatty acids, especially palmitic, cis-9,12-linoleic and α-linolenic acids, different polyphenolic compounds, essential amino acids, chlorophyll, vitamins such as A, B, C, E and K, tannins, carbohydrates, sterols, polysaccharides, isolectins and minerals [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Scientific studies have shown that Urtica dioica extracts have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anti-aging effects, which is associated with the content of phenolic compounds in them [20][21][22]. Phenolic compounds are famous group of secondary metabolites with wide pharmacological activities [23].…”

“…Hydroalcoholic extract of Urtica dioica showed positive in-vitro antioxidant activity and nettle was described as natural antioxidant that can replace the synthetic ones to be used in foods and cosmetics [31]. In studies on aqueous extracts of nettle biological compounds, antioxidant capacity and their antidiabetic, antimutagenic and hypotensive effects were determined [9, 21,32,33]. Methanolic extracts studies suggested that Urtica dioica has a protective capacity and antioxidant activity against cisplatin toxicity in EAT-bearing mice and can efficiently disslove calcium oxalate renal stones in male Sprague-Dawley rats [34,35].…”