Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle): A Neglected Plant With Emerging Growth Promoter/Immunostimulant Properties for Farmed Fish

Potential Anti-Tumorigenic Properties of Diverse Medicinal Plants against the Majority of Common Types of Cancer

Globally, cancer is one of the primary causes of both morbidity and mortality. To prevent cancer from getting worse, more targeted and efficient treatment plans must be developed immediately. Recent research has demonstrated the benefits of natural products for several illnesses, and these products have played a significant role in the development of novel treatments whose bioactive components serve as both chemotherapeutic and chemo-preventive agents. Phytochemicals are naturally occurring molecules obtained from plants that have potential applications in both cancer therapy and the development of new medications. These phytochemicals function by regulating the molecular pathways connected to the onset and progression of cancer. Among the specific methods are immune system control, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, preventing proliferation, raising antioxidant status, and inactivating carcinogens. A thorough literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Google Patent, Patent Scope, and US Patent to obtain the data. To provide an overview of the anticancer effects of several medicinal plants, including Annona muricata, Arctium lappa, Arum palaestinum, Cannabis sativa, Catharanthus roseus, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hibiscus, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Moringa oleifera, Nerium oleander, Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica, Withania somnifera L., their availability, classification, active components, pharmacological activities, signaling mechanisms, and potential side effects against the most common cancer types were explored.

Effects of Urtica urens in the Feed of Broilers on Performances, Digestibility, Carcass Characteristics and Blood Parameters

With the aim of improving animal health and productivity, plants or plant extracts that have antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties are often used in studies with broilers. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Urtica urens in broilers. Ninety male Ross chicks were used, randomly placed in 30 pens (three broilers per pen). The broilers were assigned to three treatment groups: group CT (control) received a basal diet; group UU1 received a basal diet with 1% dried Urtica urens; and group UU2 received a basal diet with 2% dried Urtica urens. Each treatment consisted of two feeds, distributed from day 1 to 15 (starter) and from day 15 to 36 (grower). As a result of this study, broilers in the UU1 treatment group had higher weight on day 15 (p = 0.029) and day 36 (p = 0.014) than those in treatments CT and UU2 and a higher daily weight gain between days 1 and 15 (p = 0.028) and days 1 and 36 (p = 0.014). Broilers in the UU1 and UU2 groups had lower serum HDL cholesterol (88.8 and 88.9 mg/dL, respectively) than the CT (96.1 mg/dL). In conclusion, the use of dried Urtica urens at 1% as an additive in broiler diets may affect growth performance and blood HDL cholesterol.

Effect of dietary garlic (Allium sativum) on the zootechnical performance and health indicators of aquatic animals: A mini-review

Considerable efforts have been made by modern aquaculture to mitigate the environmental damages caused by its practices while also attempting to improve the quality of the aquatic organisms by promoting alternatives, such as the use of natural products, like garlic (Allium sativum), and instead of chemical agents. Garlic has multiple properties, including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antitoxic, and anticancer effects. In fish, the antiparasitic activity of garlic is one of the most reported effects in the literature, mainly using immersion baths for aquatic organisms. Using garlic also has an antimicrobial effect on the culture of aquatic organisms. Therefore, this review focuses on the impact of garlic on the health and production of aquatic organisms.

Nettle (Urtica dioica) Additive as a Growth Promoter and Immune Stimulator in Fish

Aquaculture will become an important food production sector for humans in the coming decades. However, disease outbreaks can be considered a significant obstacle to continually developing aquaculture. Plant powders and extracts are natural feed additives that, due to their bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, have antistress, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects on fish. One of these herbs is nettle (Urtica dioica), which has a long history of being used in traditional medicine. While it has been widely investigated in mammalian medicine, few studies have been done on aquaculture species. The positive effect of this herb on the growth performance, hematology, blood biochemistry, and immune system of fish species has been observed. When fish were exposed to pathogens, nettle-fed fish showed a higher survival rate and less stress than controls. Therefore, this literature review is aimed at reviewing the use of this herb in fish diets and its impacts on growth performance, hematology, blood biochemistry, liver enzymes, immune system stimulation, and challenges with pathogens.

Bioactive Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Ponciri Fructus

Ponciri Fructus is a crude drug obtained from the dried immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L). Raf. (Syn. Citrus trifoliata L.). This study aims to compile and analyze the ethnomedicinal uses, bioactive constituents, and pharmacological activities of Ponciri Fructus. Various online bibliographic databases namely, SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used for collecting information on traditional uses, biological activities, and bioactive constituents. Concerning ethnomedicinal uses, Ponciri Fructus is extensively used in traditional Korean, Chinese, and Kampo medicines to mitigate allergic reactions, inflammation, edema, digestive complications, respiratory problems, spleen-related problems, liver complications, neuronal pain, hyperlipidemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular problems, hernia, sinusitis, and insomnia. Several studies have shown that Ponciri Fructus is a major source of diverse classes of bioactive compounds namely flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, phytosterols, and alkaloids. Several in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activity evaluations such as antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antimelanogenic, gastroprotective, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects have been conducted from Ponciri Fructus. However, scientific investigations focusing on bioassay-guided isolation and identification of specific bioactive constituents are limited. Therefore, an in-depth scientific investigation of Ponciri Fructus focusing on bioassay-guided isolation, mechanism based pharmacological studies, pharmacokinetic studies, and evaluation of possible toxicities is necessary in the future.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.): Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Compounds, and Food Functional Properties

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae) is commonly found in Asia, Africa, and Europe and has a long history of being used as food and traditional medicine. Recently, this plant is gaining attention as a highly nutritious food, where fresh leaves are dried and used as powder or in other forms. Leaves are rich in many bioactive compounds. This review aims to cover the traditional uses in food and medicine, as well as its nutritional composition, including its bioactive chemical constituents and reported food functional activities. Various bioactive chemical constituents have been isolated from stinging nettle to date, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acid, carotenoids, and fatty acids. Stinging nettle extracts and its compounds, such as rutin, kaempferol, and vitamin A, are also used for their nutritional properties and as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Future studies should focus on the proper formulation and stability testing of the functional foods containing stinging nettle and their detailed activities in clinical studies.

Nettle, a Long-Known Fiber Plant with New Perspectives

The stinging nettle Urticadioica L. is a perennial crop with low fertilizer and pesticide requirements, well adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. It has been successfully grown in most European climatic zones while also promoting local flora and fauna diversity. The cultivation of nettle could help meet the strong increase in demand for raw materials based on plant fibers as a substitute for artificial fibers in sectors as diverse as the textile and automotive industries. In the present review, we present a historical perspective of selection, harvest, and fiber processing features where the state of the art of nettle varietal selection is detailed. A synthesis of the general knowledge about its biology, adaptability, and genetics constituents, highlighting gaps in our current knowledge on interactions with other organisms, is provided. We further addressed cultivation and processing features, putting a special emphasis on harvesting systems and fiber extraction processes to improve fiber yield and quality. Various uses in industrial processes and notably for the restoration of marginal lands and avenues of future research on this high-value multi-use plant for the global fiber market are described.

Application of Ultrasound as Clean Technology for Extraction of Specialized Metabolites From Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

Nettle is a highly valued medicinal plant that is still largely neglected, both in terms of nutrition and use for pharmacological purposes. Tinctures, i.e., alcoholic extracts, are becoming increasingly popular nettle products, mainly because they allow better availability of phytochemicals and their stability over a longer period of time. The production of alcoholic extracts is a chemically demanding process that is still usually carried out using conventional techniques, which have numerous drawbacks. The use of green technologies such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), which is characterized by high efficiency of phytochemical extraction, shorter treatment time, and a much lower environmental footprint, is a suitable and sustainable solution. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the influence of the extraction method, conventional and ultrasound (by varying two ultrasound equipment systems), time and ethanol concentration on the extraction of specialized metabolites from nettle powder. Ultrasonic extraction using a probe system significantly contributed to increase the ascorbic acid yield, polyphenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of nettle extracts compared to conventional extraction. In addition, when a probe system was used during UAE, significantly less time was required for isolation of individual specialized metabolites compared to ultrasonic extraction in the bath. Ethanol concentration (50 and 80% v/v) also proved to be an important factor in the efficiency of extraction of specialized metabolites, with 80% ethanol being more effective for the isolation of ascorbic acid and pigment compounds (chlorophyll and carotenoids), while 50% v/v for the extraction of polyphenolic compounds. It can be concluded that extraction with the ultrasonic probe system is much more efficient in obtaining higher yields of specialized metabolites from nettle powder in a shorter time (average process duration 5-10 min) both compared to UAE in the bath and classical extraction. However, optimization of the key factors of time, solvent type, and ultrasonic power is necessary to maintain the nutritional quality of the nettle extract in order to obtain a final product with a high specialized metabolites content, antioxidant capacity, and functional value. The future application of alcoholic nettle extracts is based on the fact that these products have significant potential as functional foods and pharmacological preparations for the treatment of a number of but also to strengthen the immune system, mainly due to the rich nutritional composition and high content of various specialized metabolites. The prepared extracts can be safely taken orally by diluting the tinctures with water immediately before ingestion.

Nettle Cultivation Practices-From Open Field to Modern Hydroponics: A Case Study of Specialized Metabolites

Conventional agricultural production faces numerous challenges due to the pronounced effects of climate change, particularly global warming, and drought more than ever before in history, with the primary concern being to produce adequate yields and high-quality, nutritious plant material. Likewise, people are increasingly looking for new sources of food and are becoming aware of the importance of a varied diet and its connection to health. In this sense, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) stands out as a valuable species that is neglected as a food source, as it has a significant content of specialized metabolites, and thus has an extremely high potential for use both nutritionally and pharmacologically, but is still traditionally collected from natural habitats, so it can be of questionable quality and undefined chemical composition. Therefore, sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly shifting to modern hydroponic cultivation methods in greenhouses. The advantage lies in the easier management and control of a number of factors during cultivation (air temperature and relative humidity, balanced and rational fertilization, minimization of nitrate uptake, etc.), ensuring better conditions for the growth and development of nettle according to its needs. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the technology of stinging nettle cultivation in the field and to show the possibilities of cultivation with modern hydroponic techniques to obtain a final product of consistent and uniform quality, high content of specialized metabolites and significant nutritional value. Research on this topic is still sparse but will certainly increase in the future. Therefore, this review provides all the necessary data for such future studies.

Effects of dietary stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on hormone stress and selected serum biochemical parameters of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress

Background

Heat stress is one of the most critical problems confronting the poultry industry. Stinging nettle (SN) is a medicinal plant with potent antioxidant properties.

Objective

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary SN at two different levels (2 and 4%) on the serum levels of cortisol and some selected parameters of broilers exposed to chronic heat stress.

Methods

A total of 240 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to six dietary groups as follows: (1) control: fed the basal diet; (2) HS: heat‐stressed broiler fed the basal diet; (3) HS‐SN2: heat‐stressed broiler fed 2% dietary SN; (4) HS‐SN4: heat‐stressed broilers fed 4% SN; (5) SN2: no heat‐stressed broilers fed the basal diet supplemented with 2% SN; (6) SN4: no heat‐stressed broilers fed the basal diet supplemented with 4% SN. Diet supplementation with SN was performed from days 14 to 35 and chronic heat stress was induced from days 22 to 29. The serum parameters were evaluated on days 14, 21, 29 and 35.

Results

HS had higher serum levels of cortisol, total cholesterol (TC), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase (CK) compared to the other treatments. HS‐SN4 had significantly lower cortisol, TC, alanine aminotransferase and CK compared to HS and HS‐SN2.

Conclusions

The inclusion of 4% SN powder in the broilers’ diet alleviated the negative effects of heat stress by decreasing cortisol, TC and tissue damage indices. It seems that dietary SN could be used as a feed additive in the poultry diet for improving the health status and defence mechanisms of the birds under stressful conditions.

Moringa oleifera Leaves' Extract Enhances Nonspecific Immune Responses, Resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus, and Growth in Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

Simple Summary

This study found that moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves’ water extract triggered phenoloxidase activity, phagocytic rate, and superoxide anion production in whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) hemocytes by an in vitro assay. By an in vivo assay, a dietary moringa extract enhanced the total hemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, phagocytic rate, immune-related gene expressions, and growth performance of the whiteleg shrimp. The administration of dietary moringa extract increased the survival rate after challenging the whiteleg shrimp with Vibrio alginolyticus.

Abstract

Moringa is widely known as a plant with high medicinal properties. Therefore, moringa has a high potential for use as an immunostimulant in shrimp. This study investigated the effect of a moringa water extract on the immune response, resistance against V. alginolyticus, and growth performance of whiteleg shrimp. To perform the in vitro assay, hemocytes were incubated with different concentrations of the moringa extract. Furthermore, the moringa extract was incorporated at 0 (control), 1.25 g (ME1.25), 2.5 g (ME2.5), and 5.0 g (ME5.0) per kg of diet for the in vivo assay. During the rearing period, immune responses, namely the total hemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, phagocytosis activity, superoxide anion production, and immune-related gene expression were examined on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Growth performance was measured 60 days after the feeding period. Furthermore, the shrimp were challenged with V. alginolyticus after being fed for different feeding durations. The results of the in vitro assay revealed that 100–250 ppm of the moringa extract enhanced the PO activity, phagocytic rate (PR), and superoxide anion production. The findings of the in vivo assay demonstrated that the THC, PO activity, PR, and immune-related gene expression, including alpha-2-macroglobulin, prophenoloxidase II, penaeidin2, penaeidin3, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, crustin, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, and clotting protein, were higher in the group of ME.25 and ME5.0 than in the control and ME1.25 at several time points. Growth performance was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the ME2.5 group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the dietary ME2.5 resulted in a higher survival rate compared to that of the control group after challenging with V. alginolyticus, especially at ME2.5 administered for 4 and 7 days. This study indicated that the incorporation of the moringa extract at 2.5 g per kg of diet enhanced the immune response, the growth performance of the whiteleg shrimp, and the resistance against V. alginolyticus infection.

Garlic (Allium sativum) and Fu-ling (Poria cocos) mitigate lead toxicity by improving antioxidant defense mechanisms and chelating ability in the liver of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The heavy metal lead (Pb) is a contaminant widely distributed in the food chain. In this study, eight weeks of feeding containing Garlic (Allium sativum) or Fu-ling (Poria cocos) or both, markedly increased the growth index, enzyme activity, and serum index and significantly decreased muscle Pb level in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Upon Pb exposure, the feeding Garlic or Fu-ling or both possessed the similar effects on improving the function of the antioxidant system and chelating ability. Further, the gene expressions of metal binding proteins (TF and MT-2) in the liver of the three experimental groups were significantly higher than those of the control group, which were all highly up-regulated after Pb exposure. At the same time, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and the content of non-enzymatic substance (GSH) in the liver of the Garlic group, Fu-ling group and mixed group were stable compared to the control group after Pb exposure. Moreover, the reduction of Pb toxicity was manifested by the decrease of Pb content in the muscle, and the stable expression of heat stress proteins (HSP30 and HSP60) and immune-related genes (TNF-α and IL-1β). Taken together, the study preliminarily shows that the Garlic and Fu-ling play a role in mitigating the toxicity of Pb in grass carp.