Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_152
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-949952

LC-PDA-MS-profiles of phenolic compounds in extracts of aerial parts of Urtica species

F Bucar 1, B Britzmann 1, B Streit 1, M Weigend 2
  • 1Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 4/1,A-8010 Graz, Austria
  • 2Institute of Biology – Systematic Botany and Plant Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstr. 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Extracts of the aerial parts of nettle (Urticae folium/herba) are used for adjuvant therapy of rheumatic ailments and as a diuretic in inflammatory disorders of the lower urinary tract [1]. The active constitutents are supposed to be phenolic acids and flavonoids.

However, the taxonomy of Urtica seems to be complex and numerous subspecies and varieties of U. dioica L. exist. Hence we undertook LC-PDA-MS analyses of a range of U. dioica samples (including subspecies and varieties) and compared their profiles of phenolic acids and flavonoids with those of U. urens L., U. galeopsifolia Wierzb. ex Opiz, U. flabellate Kunth., U. platyphylla Wedd., U. pubescens Ledeb., U. peruviana Goltman and U. mexicana Liebm.. In all U. dioica samples neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeoylmalic acid together with the rutinosides and glucosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin could be detected which was in accordance with literature [2, 3]. Additionally kryptochlorogenic acid, 2-caffeoyltartaric acid and p-cumaroylquinic acid was found. U. urens contained predominantly chlorogenic acid, no caffeoylmalic acid could be detected (4). Further constituents which were new for the genus Urtica were feruloylmalic acid (U. flabellata, U. peruviana), cichoric acid, feruloyltartaric acid, schaftosid and orientin (U. peruviana). In an in vitro assay on 12-LOX inhibition (5) the methanolic extract of U. platyphylla and U. flabellata showed the highest activities (% inhibition at 100µg/mL: 53.6±10.5 and 58.2±16.6, respectively).

References: 1. ESCOP Monographs, 2nd edition, ESCOP, Exeter, and Thieme, Stuttgart. 2. Budzianowski, J. (1991), Planta Med. 57:507–515. 3. Chaurasia, N., Wichtl, M. (1987), Planta Med. 53: 432–434. 4. Schomakers, J. et al. (1995), Dtsch Apoth Ztg 135: 578–84. 5. Schneider, I. et al. (2004), Planta Med, 70:471–74.