BACKGROUND: Numerous studies were carried out to develop more sophisticated dressings to expedite healing processes and diminish the bacterial burden in burn wounds. This study assessed the healing effect of NETTLE EXTRACT on second degree burns wound in rats in comparison with silver sulfadiazine and vaseline.METHODS: Forty rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups. A deep second-degree burn was created on the back of each rat using a standard burning procedure. The burns were dressed daily with NETTLE EXTRACT in group 1, silver sulfadiazine in group 2, vaseline in group 3 and without any medication in group 4 as control group.The response to treatment was assessed by digital photography during the treatment until day 42. Histological scoring was undertaken for scar tissue samples on days 10 and 42.RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in group 1 compared with other groups regarding 4 scoring parameters after 10 days. A statistically significant difference was seen for fibrosis parameter after 42 days. In terms of difference of wound surface area, maximal healing was noticed at the same time in NETTLE group and minimal repair in the control group.CONCLUSION: Our findings showed maximal rate of healing in the NETTLE group. So it may be a suitable substitute for silver sulfadiazine and vaseline when available.

Background: Regarding side effects of acute and especially chronic inflammation and incomplete treatment of patients who suffering from these side effects, the new and affective strategies are needed. Objective: For this purpose in the present study, we scientifically evaluate an introduced folk herb Stinging NETTLE (Urtica dioica), for treatment of inflammation.Method: The control and treatment groups (rats which received the EXTRACT) were subjected to four methods in order to measure the inflammation: 1) Following production of inflammation by injection of formalin in hind paw, evance blue dye was injected to circulation and due to cutting the paws in border of wrist, they segmented to number parts. These segments set-aside in aceton+sodium sulfate sulotion for 24 hour in room temperature, finally the light absorption of the santrifuged sulotion was measured as the data. In 2 and 3 methods respectively xylene and acetic acid were applied to ear and peritoneum. However, light absorption of the solution separated from ear segments solution and fluid of the peritoneum was read as the data. In 4th method the difference in weight of cottons which implanted in groin border of rats, before and after 7 days were compared in control and treatment groups.Results: Statistical analysis has shown a significant difference between rate of inflammation in control and treatment groups. The EXTRACT in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg could reduce inflammation produced by formalin 34.52 ± 2.2 (p<0.001) and 22.71 ± 2.1 % (p<0.05) respectively. The dose of 100 mg/kg could nearly diminish inflammation 35.48 ± 1.2 % (p<0.05) in the inflamed ears. However, three doses of the EXTRACT (20, 50 and 100 mg/kg) have significant effect on peritonitis produced by acetic acid application in peritoneum. These effects calculated as 21.45 ± 2.1 (p<0.05), 35.55±2.2 and 27.49±1.8 % (p<0.001) respectively. Finally, our finding on chronic pain showed that the EXTRACT in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg could alleviate the inflammation 24.08 ± 2.1 and 19.04 ± 04 % respectively (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that alcoholic Urtica dioica EXTRACT could markedly reduce the chronic and acute inflammation.

High levels of circulating fat are considered an important factor in atherosclerosis. So the most important object of the present study is to investigate the effect of NETTLE leaf EXTRACT mixture on atherosclerosis plaque formation and biochemical factors of cardiovascular diseases. Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, normal diet as the control group, sunflower oil as a sham group, high cholesterolemic group (1% cholesterol), and high-cholesterol + NETTLE leaf EXTRACT (500 mg/kg of BW) group. Components were given to the sham and all 2 experimental groups as gavage. Obtained results of the present study indicated that body weight was reduced significantly in group III compared with the control groups and group II. In the slices prepared from the aorta of the 1% cholesterol-treated group, athreptic plaques were detectable. The plaques were formed of lipid-laden macrophages, and foam cells, with smooth muscle cells within the plaques. The thickness of the plaque increased so that it was more than half of the thickness of the environment. Pathology results showed that the NETTLE EXTRACT reduced significantly the damage in the arterial wall compared with the high-cholesterol group. The atheroma was fully raised and observable in the inner surface of the vessel (P<0/01). The results indicated that Grande ortie EXTRACT is efficient and tended to improve atherosclerosis complications in hypercholesterolemia rabbits.

High levels of circulating fat are considered an important factor in atherosclerosis. So the most important object of the present study is to investigate the effect of NETTLE leaf EXTRACT mixture on atherosclerosis plaque formation and biochemical factors of cardiovascular diseases. Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, normal diet as the control group, sunflower oil as a sham group, high cholesterolemic group (1% cholesterol), and high-cholesterol + NETTLE leaf EXTRACT (500 mg/kg of BW) group. Components were given to the sham and all 2 experimental groups as gavage. Obtained results of the present study indicated that body weight was reduced significantly in group III compared with the control groups and group II. In the slices prepared from the aorta of the 1% cholesterol-treated group, athreptic plaques were detectable. The plaques were formed of lipid-laden macrophages, and foam cells, with smooth muscle cells within the plaques. The thickness of the plaque increased so that it was more than half of the thickness of the environment. Pathology results showed that the NETTLE EXTRACT reduced significantly the damage in the arterial wall compared with the high-cholesterol group. The atheroma was fully raised and observable in the inner surface of the vessel (P<0/01). The results indicated that Grande ortie EXTRACT is efficient and tended to improve atherosclerosis complications in hypercholesterolemia rabbits.

Aim: An endogenous repairman of the central nervous system is possible via neural stem cells. Some researchers have suggested the neural protective of some medicinal herbs such as; Urtica dioica. The purpose of this study is creating an oxidative condition in the neural stem cell cultures and then treated the cells with methanolic EXTRACT of NETTLE leaves in vitro. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the hippocampal neural stem cells EXTRACTion was performed by enzymatic digestion in newborn rats. The verification of these cells as nerve cells was carried out by the morphological and immunocytochemistry examinations. Before treatment, the cells were exposed for 24 hours to oxidative stress condition and then NETTLE leaf EXTRACT was added to the cell plates at of 2. 5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μ g/ml and cells were maintained for 24 hours, separately. The final evaluation of the cell proliferation was performed by MTT viability test. The groups included; an experimental group that was treated with EXTRACT and the control group. Results: Neural stem cells had neural morphology and expressed nestin marker. Proliferation percentage of the neural stem cells was higher in the treatment groups than the control group. In addition, MTT assay results showed that the percentage of live cells in the treated groups increased, as the proliferation of the neural stem cells significantly increased (P<0/05) at 20μ g/ml. Conclusion: Methanolic EXTRACT of NETTLE leaf have neuroprotective effects and could adjust oxidative stress condition in vitro. It was able to improve the dysfunction of the central nervous system, following the production of free radicals.