Pharmacognosic studies on Urtica dioica L.

Urtica dioica L. leaf is basically recommended for the complaints associated with rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. It also has antiviral, antioxidant, antiinflamatory activities. On the other hand nettle root is recommended for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Phytomedicines prepared from the standardized dry extract of roots are used for BPH mostly in capsule formSo called ?Food Supplements? containing Urtica dioica produced in Turkey are sold mostly online and in akthars (herb shops). These products are claimed as panacea and most of the information isn?t based on scientific factsInformation on morphological, microscobic characters, chemical structure, biological activity and usage of Urtica dioica is reviewed. In the practical part of the research, the samples collected from nature and bought from akthars were analized according to European Pharmacopeia. The analysis are: macroscobic and microscobic identification, thin layer chromatography, foreign matter, loss on drying, total ash, ash in soluble in hydrochloric acid and liquid chromatography with HPLCThe result of TLC and the amount of chlorogenic acid found in the samples collected from nature didn?t comply with European Pharmacopeia. Samples bought from akthars have higher amounts of foreign matter and lower amounts of chlorogenic acid given in European Pharmacopeia; therefore they didn?t comply with Pharmacopeia standartsCultivation experiments of Urtica dioica have been achieved in Turkey. However, it is necessary to make a research on the material obtained from Urtica dioica cultivars to establish the compliance to European Pharmacopeia.