title: Effects ofUrtica dioicasupplementation on blood lipids, hepatic enzymes and nitric oxide levels in type 2 diabetic patients: A double blind, randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of diabetic complications including metabolic abnormality-induced diabetic micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications.Urtica dioica L.(U. dioica) has been traditionally used in Iranian medicine as an herbal remedy for hypoglycemic or due to its anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract ofU. dioicaon blood lipids, hepatic enzymes and nitric oxide levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 women with type 2 diabetes participated in this study and were randomly divided into two groups namely, control and intervention groups. Control group received placebo and intervention group received hydro-alcoholic extract ofU. dioica. Before and after 8 weeks of continuous treatment, some biochemical serum levels including FPG, TG, SGPT, SGOT, HDL, LDL, SOD and NO were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that after 8 weeks, in the intervention group, FPG, TG, and SGPT levels significantly decreased and HDL, NO and SOD levels significantly increased as compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results encourage the use of hydro-alcoholic extract ofU. dioicaas an antioxidant agent for additional therapy of diabetes as hydro-alcoholic extract ofU. dioicamay decrease risk factors of cardiovascular incidence and other complications in patients with diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Young Researcher and Elites Club, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alidad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amiri Behzadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalalian-Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University Damghan Branch, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
keywords: Hydro-alcoholic extract; Oxidative stress; Type2 diabetes; Urticadioica