Stinging Nettle - A natural cancer fighter with multiple health benefits

Herbs And Phytochemicals: The stinging nettle, scientifically known as Urtica dioica, is not just a pesky plant you want to avoid in the wild. Recent studies have highlighted its potential as a powerhouse of health benefits, particularly its anticancer properties. This Herbs And Phytochemicals news report delves into as study review by researchers from the Lebanese American University-Lebanon and University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover-Germany that explore various ways stinging nettle can be beneficial, from fighting cancer to supporting overall health.


Stinging Nettle - A Natural Cancer Fighter With Multiple Health Benefits

What is Stinging Nettle?
Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous plant known for its stinging hairs that cause a burning sensation upon contact. This plant has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, valued for its therapeutic properties. Modern science is now catching up, revealing the numerous health benefits this plant offers.
 
Anticancer Properties
-Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, these methods can have significant side effects. Researchers have found that stinging nettle extracts can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. The extracts induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells, halting their growth and proliferation.
 
Studies on different prostate cancer cell lines, such as PC3 and LNCaP, have shown that stinging nettle extracts are cytotoxic to these cells. The extracts cause cell cycle arrest, particularly at the G2/M phase, preventing the cells from dividing and spreading. Moreover, stinging nettle promotes the activation of caspases, proteins involved in the apoptosis process, thereby leading to cancer cell death.
 
For example, dichloromethane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of stinging nettle have been evaluated and found to exhibit a cytotoxic effect on several prostate cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A differential response was observed on different prostate cancer cell lines depending on the hormonal sensitivity of each. In one study, researchers reported that 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran (DTH) extract from nettle roots was more cytotoxic to LNCaP cells than PC3 cells due to their differences in androgen sensitivity. Nettle was also shown to inhibit the proliferation of PC3 prostate cancer cells by inducing a G2/M cell cycle arrest, hence halting the cell cycle progression at a critical checkpoint during cell division.
 
-Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is another area where stinging nettle shows promise. Extracts from the plant have been found to reduce the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The extracts work by increasing the levels of apoptotic markers, such as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and inducing DNA fragmentation in cancer cells. This mechanism ensures that cancer cells are effectively destroyed.
 
Research has also indicated that stinging nettle can enhance the effects of conventional chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel and cisplatin. This combination therapy can result in a more effective treatment, reducing the required dosage of chemotherapy drugs and, consequently, their side effects.
 
Several studies have revealed that nettle exhibits antiproliferative properties along with proapoptotic effects on many breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-7 and MDA-MB cells. To analyze and evaluate those properties, researchers have reported a dose-dependent antiproliferative activity of nettle extract on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines along with a prominent antioxidant activity of powdered nettle, which might be attributed to its flavonoid content, such as kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin.
 
Additionally, studies indicated that nettle extract activates the cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), a protein involved in DNA repair, in prostate cancer cells. Another hallmark of apoptosis is mitochondrial depolarization, which is characterized by increased permeability of the mitochondrial membrane and the release of cytochrome c, a caspase-9 activator, into the cytosol. Researchers have revealed the ability of nettle to decrease mitochondrial membrane potential in prostate cancer cells. Along with this, increased caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity upon nettle exposure provides more evidence for the role of apoptosis in prostate cancer cell death.
 
From a different aspect, the inhibitory effect of nettle on breast cancer cell motility was also assessed. Nettle was reported to have a selective and considerable ability to reduce the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 cells while having no effect on normal cell lines. The results are in line with another study that confirmed the efficacy of nettle in inhibiting MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell migration. This was revealed by the downregulated expression of genes such as miR-21; matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, 9, and 13; E-cadherin; vimentin; and CXCR4, all of which play a crucial role in promoting cell metastasis.
 
-Leukemia
Leukemia, a cancer of the blood, can also be targeted by stinging nettle. The plant's extracts have shown inhibitory effects on various leukemia cell lines, including HL-60 and U937. The extracts induce cell cycle arrest and promote apoptosis in leukemia cells, while having minimal effects on normal cells. This selectivity makes stinging nettle a promising candidate for leukemia treatment.
 
Studies have also highlighted that stinging nettle can disrupt the mitochondrial membrane potential in leukemia cells, leading to cell death. Additionally, the extracts downregulate genes involved in the cell cycle, further inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. A possible mechanism of action for nettle is targeting the cell cycle progression. In fact, nettle extract caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in pre-G0 content in U937 cells, while displaying an increase in the sub-G1 phase in HL-60, Jurkat, and Raji cells. Along with these results, exposure to nettle extracts resulted in a remarkable downregulation of genes involved in the cell cycle pathway, such as the MDM2 gene.
 
Hallmarks of apoptosis were further investigated to elucidate the mechanism by which nettle disrupts the proliferation of leukemic cells. Flow cytometry results from various leukemia cell lines treated with nettle showed a significant increase in Annexin V binding to phosphatidylserine upon the translocation of the latter to the outer leaflet during apoptosis. Along these lines, DNA fragmentation was significantly increased in U937 cells; activation of the mitochondrial-dependent pathway of apoptosis was further demonstrated by the significant increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, the mitochondrial membrane potential, a key indicator of healthy intact mitochondria, was found to be responsible for promoting cell death in HL-60 cells. Disruption in this potential could have detrimental outcomes and commit the cells to the apoptotic pathway.
 
-Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a significant health concern worldwide. Stinging nettle extracts have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells. The extracts cause oxidative stress in cancer cells, leading to apoptosis. They also arrest the cell cycle at the G2 phase, preventing cancer cells from multiplying.
 
Research has shown that stinging nettle extracts increase the expression of caspases and other apoptotic markers in colorectal cancer cells. These findings suggest that stinging nettle could be an effective natural therapy for colorectal cancer. For instance, nettle plant extract was shown to significantly inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with minimal effects against healthy human colorectal cells, highlighting its promising potential use amongst other treatments.
 
Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that oxidative stress is a mediator of apoptosis. With that in mind, nettle, through the mediation of lipid peroxidation, has been reported to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, promoting oxidative stress. At the same time, other studies have documented cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase and DNA fragmentation upon nettle treatment. Combined, these aspects suggest the ability of nettle to induce an apoptotic response in colorectal cancer cells.
 
As for other properties, nettle has been documented to exhibit chemopreventive effects when supplied simultaneously with a tumor inducer in animal models. Specifically, nettle supplementation reduced colon cancer incidence rate and development, restored the activities of several antioxidant enzymes, and induced apoptosis through elevated Caspase 3 expression.
 
Other Health Benefits
Beyond its anticancer properties, stinging nettle offers numerous other health benefits:
 
-Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties
Stinging nettle is rich in flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. These properties make it useful in treating autoimmune inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
 
-Antidiabetic Effects
Studies have shown that stinging nettle can help manage diabetes. The plant's extracts have been found to normalize blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity. They also enhance the activity of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, providing a comprehensive antidiabetic effect.
 
-Cardiovascular Health
Stinging nettle supports cardiovascular health by reducing blood cholesterol levels and improving blood circulation. Its anti-inflammatory properties also help in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
 
-Nutritional Value
Stinging nettle is a nutritional powerhouse, rich in vitamins A, C, D, and K, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium. Its high protein content makes it a valuable addition to the diet, especially for vegetarians and vegans.
 
Conclusion
Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a plant with remarkable health benefits, particularly in its anticancer properties. From inhibiting the growth of prostate, breast, leukemia, and colorectal cancer cells to supporting overall health, this plant offers a natural and effective approach to disease prevention and treatment.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed: International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/13/7501
 
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