The Effects of Urtica Dioica on Diabetes

Introduction: Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder caused by abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate and insulin deficiency. Although current usual treatments for diabetes have been successful, majority of cases believed on other herbal drugs. Medical plants are potential sources of anti-diabetics components and can be considered as a complementary therapeutic tool. So we decided to examine effects of famous herbal Urtica dioica.Data were collected from electronically scientific databases such as Google Scholar, Science Direct and Wiley according to terms including Urtica dioica extract and herbal medicine in combination with diabetes1, diabetes2.The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of aerial parts of Urtica dioica are used as an anti-diabetics agent and play an important role to diminish blood glucose level. Due to multi mechanisms such as upregulation of glucose trasporter4 (GLUT4) expression, inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase, increasing insulin secretion, decreasing insulin sensitivity as well as improving β- cell function and repairing.Although several studies reported anti-diabetics properties of Urtica dioica, some others did not. In the other hand, positive results were confirmed in animal models of diabetes and in vitro studies. There have been limited studies about anti- hyperglycemic effects of this medicinal plant in human. Some of previous Study did not recommend using this herbal extract for the treatment of diabetes type1.

Keywords:

Urtica dioica , Diabetes , Herbal medicine.