Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aqueous Extract of Algerian Nettle (Urtica dioïca L.) as Possible Alternative Pathway to Control Some Plant Diseases

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study highlights, for the first time, the effect of Algerian nettle (Urtica dioïca L.) water extract against some phytopathogens bacteria. Results showed that water extract exhibited high level of total phenol content (261.7 ± 5.1 mg g−1 GAE) and a remarkable antioxidant activity (IC50 = 20.0 ± 0.6 µg mL−1) comparable to Trolox as reference (IC50 = 16.5 ± 0.5 µg mL−1). Moreover, results showed that water extract presented an interesting inhibition of some Gram-positive and Gram-negative phytopathogens’ bacteria. These results highlighted that secondary metabolites from Urtica dioïca could be an alternative pathway to synthetic pesticides for plant diseases control.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akgül M (2013) Suitability of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) stalks for medium density fiberboards production. Compos Part B Eng 45(1):925–929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.09.048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews W (1992) Manual of food quality control. 4. Rev. 1. Microbiological analysis. Food and Drug Administration, Washington. FAO Food Nutr Pap 14(4 Revis 1):1–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Aquino O, Mansilla JP, Maria JS (2006) In vitro selection of an effective fungicide against Armillaria mellea and control of white root rot of grapevine in the field. Pest Manag Sci 62:223–228. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Augspole I, Duma M, Ozola B, Cinkmanis I (2017) Phenolic profile of fresh and frozen nettle, goutweed, dandelion and chickweed leaves. In: FOODBALT 2017 conference proceeding, pp 36–39. https://doi.org/10.22616/foodbalt.2017.028

  • Barragan Ferrer D, Venskutonis PR, Talou T, Barragan Ferrer JM, Zebib B, Merah O (2018) Identification and in vitro activity of bioactive compounds extracted from Tussilago farfara L. plant grown in Lithuania and France. Free Radic Antioxid 8(1):40–47. https://doi.org/10.5530/fra.2018.1.7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barragan-Ferrer D, Venskutonis PR, Talou T, Zebib B, Barragan Ferrer MJ, Merah O (2016) Bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of Myrrhis odorata deodorized residue leaves extracts from Lithuania and France origins. Pharm Chem J 3(3):43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodros E, Baley C (2008) Study of the tensile properties of stinging nettle fibres (Urtica dioica). Mater Lett 62(14):2143–2145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourgeois C, Leclerc EA, Corbin C, Doussot J, Serrano V, Vanier J-R, Seigneuret J-M, Brand-Williams W, Cuvelier M, Berset C (1995) Use of a free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity. LWT-Food Sci Technol 28:25–30. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8030050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho AR, Costa G, Figueirinha A, Liberal J, Prior JA, Lopes MC, Batista MT (2017) Urtica spp.: phenolic composition, safety, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Food Res Int 99:485–494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.06.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang H, Cheng Y, Wu C, Chang S, Chang T, Su Y (2008) Antifungal activity of essential oil and its constituents from Calocedrus macrolepis var. formosana Florin leaf against plant pathogenic fungi. Bioresour Technol 99:6266–6270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.12.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daci-Ajvazi M, Zeneli L, Daci N, Krasniqi A, Ymeri N (2018) Chemical effects and antioxidant responses of Urtica dioica L. extracts growing along highway. Fresenius Environ Bull 27(1):172–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Dar SA, Ganai FA, Yousuf AR, Balkhi MU, Bhat TM, Sharma P (2013) Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Urtica dioica. Pharm Biol 51:170–180. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2012.715172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Virgilio N, Papazoglou EG, Jankauskiene Z, Di Lonardo S, Praczyk M, Wielgusz K (2015) The potential of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) as a crop with multiple uses. Ind Crops Prod 68:42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.08.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobravalskytė D, Venskutonis PR, Talou T, Zebib B, Merah O, Ragazinskiene O (2013) Antioxidant properties of deodorized extracts of Tussilago farfara L. Rec Nat Prod 7:201–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Fattahi S, Zabihi E, Abedian Z, Pourbagher R, Motevalizadeh Ardekani A, Mostafazadeh A, Akhavan-Niaki H (2014) Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of aqueous extract of stinging nettle and in vitro antiproliferative effect on Hela and BT-474 cell lines. Int J Mol Cell Med 3:102–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Field B, Jorden F, Osbourn A (2006) First encounters-deployment of defense-related natural products by plants. New Phytol 172:193–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01863.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher J, Bender C, Budowle B, Cobb WTS, Gold E, Ishimaru CA, Luster D, Melcher U, Murch R, Scherm H, Seem RC, Sherwood JL, Sobral BW, Tolin SA (2006) Plant pathogen forensics: capabilities, needs, and recommendations. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 70(2):450–471. https://doi.org/10.1128/MMBR.00022-05

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gülçin I, Küfrevioǧlu Öİ, Oktay M, Büyükokuroǧlu ME (2004) Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). J Ethnopharmacol 90(2–3):205–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.09.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horvath Z, Vecsei L (2009) Current medical aspects of pantethine. Nat Stand 62(7–8):220–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533210110392944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jada SR, Matthews C, Saad MS, Hamzah AS, Lajis NH, Stevens M, Stanslas J (2008) Benzylidene derivatives of and rographolide inhibit growth of breast and colon cancer cells in vitro by inducing G1 arrest and apoptosis. Br J Pharmacol 155(5):641–654. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjp.2008.368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jothy SL, Zuraini Z, Sasidharan S (2011) Phytochemicals screening, DPPH free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitiory activities of Cassia fistula seeds extract. J Med Plants Res 5(10):1941–1947

    Google Scholar 

  • Kataki MS, Murugamani V, Rajkumari A, Singh P, Mehra DA, Yadav RS (2012) Antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anthelmintic activities of methanol extract of Urtica dioica L. leaves. Pharm Crops 3:38–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kordali S, Cakir A, Zengin H, Duru ME (2003) Antifungal activities of the leaves of three Pistacia species grown in Turkey. Fitoterapia 74:164–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kregiel D, Pawlikowska E, Antolak H (2018) Urtica spp.: ordinary plants with extraordinary properties. Molecules 23(7):1664. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23071664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kukrić Z, Topalić-Trivunović L, Kukavica B, Matoš S, Pavičić S, Boroja M, Savić A (2012) Characterization of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of nettle leaves (Urtica dioïca L.). Acta Period Technol 43:257–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Külcü DB, Gökışık CD, Aydın S (2019) An investigation of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Nettle (Urtica dioica L.), Mint (Mentha piperita), Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Chenopodium album L. plants from Yaylacık Plateau, Giresun, Turkey. Turk J Agri-Food Sci Technol 7(1):73–80. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v7i1.73-80.2123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HS (2007) Fungicidal property of active component derived from Acorus gramineus rhizome against phytopathogenic fungi. Bioresour Technol 98:1324–1328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2006.05.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malik S, Upadhyaya PK, Miglani S (2011) Thiazolidinediones: a plethora of biological load. Int J Pharm Tech Res 3(1):62–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansoori B, Mohammadi A, Hashemzadeh S, Shirjang S, Baradaran A, Asadi M, Doustvandi MA, Baradaran B (2017) Urtica dioïca extract suppresses miR-21 and metastasis-related genes in breast cancer. Biomed Pharm 93:95–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Modarresi-Chahardehi A, Ibrahim D, Sulaiman SF, Mousavi L (2012) Screening antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Urtica dioica. Rev Biol Trop 60:1567–1576. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v60i4.2074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NCCLS (2000) National committee for clinical laboratory standards. Performance standards for antimicrobial disc susceptibility tests, 7th edn. Approved Standard M2-A7. NCCLS, Pennsylvania

  • Nikolova M, Dzhurmanski A (2009) Evaluation of free radical scavening capacity of extracts from cultivated plants. Biotechnol Biotechnol Equip 23(109):111. https://doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2009.10818377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunez YO, Salabarria IS, Collado IG, Hernandez-Galan R (2006) The antifungal activity of widdrol and its biotransformation by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (penz) Penz. and Sacc. and Botrytis cinerea Pers. J Agric Food Chem 54:7517–7521. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf061436m

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ojala T, Remes S, Haansuu P, Vuorela H, Hiltunen R, Haahtela K, Vuorela P (2000) Antimicrobial activity of some coumarin containing herbal plants growing in Finland. J Ethnopharmacol 73:299–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00279-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orčić D, Francišković M, Bekvalac K, Svirčev E, Beara I, Lesjak M, Mimica-Dukić N (2014) Quantitative determination of plant phenolics in Urtica dioïca extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection. Food Chem 143:48–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otles S, Yalcin B (2012) Phenolic compounds analysis of root, stalk, and leaves of nettle. Sci World J 2012:564367. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/564367

  • Prabavathy VR, Mathivanan N, Sagadevan E, Murugesan K, Lalithakumari D (2006) Self-fusion of protoplasts enhances chitinase production and biocontrol activity in Trichoderma harzianum. Bioresour Technol 97:2330–2334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.10.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Moreno C, Larrauri JA, Saura-Calixto F (1998) A procedure to measure the antiradical efficiency of polyphenols. J Sci Food Agric 76(2):270–276. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199802)76:2%3c270:AID-JSFA945%3e3.0.CO;2-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Rangel JC, Benavides J, Heredia JB, Cisneros-Zevallos L, Jacobo-Velázquez DA (2013) The Folin-Ciocalteu assay revisited: improvement of its specificity for total phenolic. Anal Methods 5:5990–5999. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ay41125g

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sayed-Ahmad B, Hijazi A, Bazzi H, Rammal H, El-Bazzal A, Annan H (2015) Determination of bioactive molecules and antioxidant activity in stinging nettle (Urtica dioïca). J Multidisc Eng Sci Technol 2(10):2753–2758

    Google Scholar 

  • Shonte TT, de Kock HL (2017) Descriptive sensory evaluation of cooked stinging nettle (Urtica dioïca L.) leaves and leaf infusions: effect of using fresh or oven-dried leaves. South Afr J Bot 110:167–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Dar SA, Sharma P (2012) Antibacterial activity and toxicological evolution of semi purified hexane extract of Urtica dioica leaves. Res J Med Plant 6:123–135. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjmp.2012.123.135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steffens JJ, Pell EJ, Tien M (1996) Mechanisms of fungicide resistance in phytopathogenic fungi. Curr Opin Biotechnol 7:348–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-1669(96)80043-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tahri A, Yamani S, Legssyer A, Aziz M, Mekhfi H, Bnouham M, Ziyyat A (2000) Acute diuretic, natriuretic and hypotensive effects of a continuous perfusion of aqueous extract of Urtica dioïca in the rat. J Ethnopharmacol 73:95–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00270-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upton R (2013) Stinging nettles leaf (Urtica dioïca L.): extraordinary vegetable medicine. J Herb Med 3:9–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2012.11.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vajic UJ, Grujic-Milanovic J, Miloradovic Z, Jovovic D, Ivanov M, Karanovic D, Savikin K, Bugarski B, Mihailovic-Stanojevic N (2018) Urtica dioïca L. leaf extract modulates blood pressure and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Phytomedicine 46:39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.04.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zebib B, Merah O (2017) Satureja myrtifolia (Boiss. & Hohen.) Lebanese wild plant, as a resource of natural antioxidants. Trends Phytochem Res 1(2):103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeković Z, Cvetanović A, Švarc-Gajić J, Gorjanović S, Sužnjević D, Mašković P, Đurović S (2017) Chemical and biological screening of stinging nettle leaves extracts obtained by modern extraction techniques. Ind Crop Prod 108:423–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.06.055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenão S, Aires A, Dias C, Saavedra MJ, Fernandes C (2017) Antibacterial potential of Urtica dioïca and Lavandula angustifolia extracts against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from diabetic foot ulcers. J Herb Med 10:53–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2017.05.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle, LCA, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Toulouse, France

    Othmane Merah

  2. Département de Génie Biologique, Université Paul-Sabatier, IUT A, 24, rue d’Embaquès, 32000, Auch, France

    Othmane Merah

  3. Département des Biotechnologies, Université de Blida 1, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, B.P. 270 Route de Soumaa, Blida, Algeria

    Zahr-Eddine Djazouli

  4. Laboratoires Agronutrition SAS, Parc Activèstre, 31390, Carbonne, France

    Bachar Zebib

Authors
  1. Othmane Merah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zahr-Eddine Djazouli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bachar Zebib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

OM, Z-ED and BZ contributed to conceptualization, design, writing—original draft preparation,review and editing, BZ and OM were involved in methodology, OM and Z-ED contributed to formal analysis and investigation and OM was involved in statistical analyses.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Othmane Merah.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Merah, O., Djazouli, ZE. & Zebib, B. Aqueous Extract of Algerian Nettle (Urtica dioïca L.) as Possible Alternative Pathway to Control Some Plant Diseases. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 45, 463–468 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-021-01061-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-021-01061-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation