title: [The influence of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) extracts on the activity of catalase in THP1 monocytes/macrophages].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stinging nettle (Urtica dioicd L.) is one of the most valuable plants used in phytotherapy. The herbal raw material is a herb (Urticae herba), leaves (Urticae folium), roots (Urticae radix) and seeds (Urticae semina). This plant is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein and biologically active compounds with antioxidant properties. The literature provides limited information about the chemical composition and properties of the seed heads. No papers are available on the effect of extracts of this plant on catalase activity in human cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) extracts on the antioxidant activity of catalase in THP1 macrophages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two types of extracts: water and alcohol, at two different concentrations, were used in experiments. Nettle was collected in September and October in 2012 in the area of Szczecin. The collected plant material was frozen and lyophilized. After those procedures water and alcohol extracts of nettle were prepared and then added to THP1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antioxidant activity of catalase was established with the spectrophotometric method. The study showed that both extracts (water and alcohol) significantly increased the antioxidant activity of catalase in THP1 cells. The increase in catalase was directly proportional to the concentration of the added alcohol extract.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janda
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szkyrpan
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gutowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011044:Poland; D046031:Raccoon Dogs / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D026982:Urtica dioica / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase