Publications

phytotherapy of hypertension and diabetes in oriental morocco.	in order to select the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and/or diabetes, a survey was undertaken in different areas of oriental morocco. the patients (370 women and 256 men) were divided into three groups: diabetics (61%), hypertensives (23%) and hypertensive diabetic persons (16%). on average, 67.51% of patients regularly use medicinal plants. this proportion is perceptibly the same in all groups and does not depend on sex, age and socio-cultural level. ...	1997	9324004
the inhibiting effects of urtica dioica root extracts on experimentally induced prostatic hyperplasia in the mouse.	extracts of stinging nettle roots (urtica dioica l. urticaceae) are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph). we established a bph-model by directly implanting an urogenital sinus (ugs) into the ventral prostate gland of an adult mouse. five differently prepared stinging nettle root extracts were tested in this model. the 20% methanolic extract was the most effective with a 51.4% inhibition of induced growth.	1997	9270373
carbohydrate-protein interaction studies by laser photo cidnp nmr methods.	the side chains of tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine are able to produce cidnp (chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization) signals after laser irradiation in the presence of a suitable radical pair-generating dye. elicitation of such a response in proteins implies surface accessibility of the respective groups to the light-absorbing dye. in principle, this technique allows the monitoring of the effect of ligand binding to a receptor and of site-directed mutagenesis on conformational aspec ...	1997	9249155
an investigation of some turkish herbal medicines in salmonella typhimurium and in the comet assay in human lymphocytes.	medicinal plants play a major role in the life of turkish people and of late medicinal plant usage has increased in many countries. green plants in general contain mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, but there is little information about the biological activities of herbal medicine. in the present study, therefore, various turkish medicinal herbs were investigated for their genotoxic potential in the salmonella typhimurium microsomal activation assay and the alkaline single cell gel electroph ...	1996	8875742
[anti-inflammatory effect of urtica dioica folia extract in comparison to caffeic malic acid].	urtica dioica extract is a traditionary used adjuvant therapeutic in rheumatoid arthritis. the antiphlogistic effects of the urtica dioica folia extract ids 23 (extractum urticae dioicae foliorum) and the main phenolic ingredient caffeic malic acid were tested concerning the inhibitory potential on biosynthesis of arachidonic acid metabolites in vitro. the caffeic malic acid was isolated from urtica folia extract using gel exclusion- and high performance liquid chromatography and identified by m ...	1996	8821518
ex-vivo in-vitro inhibition of lipopolysaccharide stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta secretion in human whole blood by extractum urticae dioicae foliorum.	an extract of urtica dioica folium (ids 23, rheuma-hek), monographed positively for adjuvant therapy of rheumatic diseases and with known effects in partial inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis in vitro, was investigated with respect to effects of the extract on the lipopolysaccharide (lps) stimulated secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in human whole blood of healthy volunteers. in the assay system used, lps stimulated human whole blood showed a straight increase of tumor ne ...	1996	8740085
the biological activity of acetylated sphingosylphosphorylcholine derivatives.	taking into account their stereochemical similarity with 1-o-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine (paf), which is known to exhibit a diverse spectrum of biological actions, including platelet aggregating and glycogenolytic activity, the acetylated derivatives of sphingosylphosphorylcholine and sphingomyelin were synthesized and tested for their ability to promote washed rabbit platelet aggregation and glycogenolysis in tetrahymena pyriformis cells. sphingomyelin (spm) and sphingosylpho ...	1996	8624845
the j beta segment of the t cell receptor contributes to the v beta-specific t cell expansion caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin b and urtica dioica superantigens.	we have used a new polymerase chain reaction-based technique to analyze at the clonal level the cdr3 diversity and the j beta usage associated with the v beta-dependent t cell receptor (tcr) recognition of two superantigens: the staphylococcal enterotoxin b and the urtica dioica agglutinin. our results show that subset of j beta elements is preferentially expanded in a given v beta family, independently of the nature of the superantigen. by contrast, the cdr3 loop does not contribute significant ...	1996	8605929
[phytoperfusion of the bladder after adenomectomy].	for continuous irrigation of the bladder after prostatic adenomectomy herb infusion (urtica dioica l. 12-15 g/l, hypericum perforatum l. 8-12 g/l. marticaria recutita l. 8-10 g/l, folia plantaginis majoris 7-10 g/l, herba millefolii 4-6 g/l, folia betula 3-5 g/l. artemisia vulgaris l. 1-2 g/l, folia fragaria vesca 3-4 g/l, water 11 maximum) was dripped through a thin suprapubic and urethral drainages. such phytoperfusion of the urinary bladder used in 22 patients reduced postoperative blood loss ...	1995	8571476
antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other n-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.	incorporation of n-acetylglucosamine-specific agglutinins from wheat germ (triticum aestivum; wga), thorn apple (datura stramonium) or nettle (urtica dioica) rhizomes in the diet at the level of 7 g/kg reduced the apparent digestibility and utilization of dietary proteins and the growth of rats, with wga being the most damaging. as a result of their binding and endocytosis by the epithelial cells of the small intestine, all three lectins were growth factors for the gut and interfered with its me ...	1993	8399111
the n-terminal cysteine-rich domain of tobacco class i chitinase is essential for chitin binding but not for catalytic or antifungal activity.	the vacuolar chitinases of class i possess an n-terminal cysteine-rich domain homologous to hevein and chitin-binding lectins such as wheat germ agglutinin and urtica dioica lectin. to investigate the significance of this domain for the biochemical and functional characteristics of chitinase, chimeric genes encoding the basic chitinase a of tobacco (nicotiana tabacum) with and without this domain were constructed and constitutively expressed in transgenic nicotiana sylvestris. the chitinases wer ...	1993	8208848
genotoxicity testing of different types of beverages in the drosophila wing somatic mutation and recombination test.	five wines and one brandy of spanish origin as well as three herbal teas and ordinary black tea were tested for genotoxicity in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (smart) which makes use of the two recessive wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr3) on the left arm of chromosome 3 of drosophila melanogaster. 3-day-old larvae trans-heterozygous for these two markers were fed the beverages at different concentrations and for different feeding periods using drosophi ...	1994	8206441
plant constituents interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin. evaluation of a test method and its application to urtica dioica root extracts.	a test system is described, which allows the search for compounds interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin (shbg) even in complex plant extracts. the method has been evaluated and applied to urtica dioica root extracts. the lignan secoisolariciresinol (5) as well as a mixture of isomeric (11 e)-9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecenoic and (10 e)-9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoic acids (3 and 4, resp.) were demonstrated to reduce binding activity of human shbg. methylation of the mixture of ...	1995	7702715
the effect of extracts of the roots of the stinging nettle (urtica dioica) on the interaction of shbg with its receptor on human prostatic membranes.	extracts from the roots of the stinging nettle (urtica dioica) are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. the mechanisms underlying this treatment have not been elucidated. we set out to determine whether specific extracts from u. dioica had the ability to modulate the binding of sex hormone-binding globulin to its receptor on human prostatic membranes. four substances contained in u. dioica were examined: an aqueous extract; an alcoholic extract; u. dioica agglutinin, and stigma ...	1995	7700987
expression of lectin, interleukin-2 and histopathologic blood group binding sites in prostate cancer and its correlation with integrated optical density and syntactic structure analysis.	the binding of several biotinylated biologic probes was determined in sections of 20 surgical specimens of prostate cancer and of 21 biopsy specimens of hyperplastic prostate. whereas neither the immunomodulatory, galactoside-specific lectin from viscum album nor the human beta-galactoside-specific lectin (m(r) 14 kd) or its specific antibody discerned any remarkable differences, the lectin from urtica dioica (uda) and interleukin-2, the in vitro production of which is enhanced by this lectin, e ...	1995	7542001
smooth muscle stimulating substances in the stinging nettle tree obetia pinnatifida.		1981	7222086
the synthesis of acetylcholine by plants.	choline acetyltransferase was demonstrated in nettles (urtica dioica), peas (pisum sativum), spinach (spinacia oleracea), sunflower (helianthus annuus) and blue--green algae by using a sepharose--coash affinity column. the column effected a 1500-fold purification of the enzyme from nettle homogenates and was required for demonstrating activity in the other higher plants. demonstration of the enzyme in blue-green algae suggests that acetylcholine was a biochemical necessity in the earliest photos ...	1981	6796060
allergic skin test reactivity to marijuana in the southwest.	in a general allergy consultation practice in arizona and western new mexico, 129 patients were tested for immediate hypersensitivity skin test reactivity to marijuana pollen and tobacco leaf, as well as to a battery of other antigens. in all, 90 patients were diagnosed as allergic (atopic) and, of these, 63 (70 percent) were found to be skin test reactive to marijuana pollen and 18 (20 percent) to tobacco leaf. the incidence of skin test reactivity to marijuana was not significantly different f ...	1983	6613109
choline acetyltransferase in the nettle urtica dioica l.	extracts of acetone-dried powders prepared from nettle leaves were shown to catalyse the synthesis of acetylcholine. the specific activity of the enzyme in these extracts is of the same order as that of extracts from mammalian sources, such as ox brain, and the effects of temperature and ph are similar to those reported for mammalian choline acetyltransferase. synthesis is not restricted to the younger leaves but appears to be continuous up to senescence.	1973	4737362
microtubules in root hairs.	the microtubules of root hairs of raphanus sativus, lepidium sativum, equisetum hyemale, limnobium stoloniferum, ceratopteris thalictroides, allium sativum and urtica dioica were investigated using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. arrays of cortical microtubules were observed in all hairs. the microtubules in the hairs show net axial orientations, but in allium and urtica helical microtubule patterns are also present. numerical parameters of microtubules in raphanus, equisetum and lim ...	2014	4066793
carbohydrate binding properties of the stinging nettle (urtica dioica) rhizome lectin.	the interaction of the stinging nettle rhizome lectin (uda) with carbohydrates was studied by using the techniques of quantitative precipitation, hapten inhibition, equilibrium dialysis, and uv difference spectroscopy. the carbohydrate binding site of uda was determined to be complementary to an n,n',n"-triacetylchitotriose unit and proposed to consist of three subsites, each of which has a slightly different binding specificity. uda also has a hydrophobic interacting region adjacent to the carb ...	2013	3740853
quantification of arteriolar density and embolization by microspheres in rat myocardium.	we developed a technique for in vitro determination of arteriolar densities. hearts, obtained from anesthetized rats and perfused by the langendorff method, were fully dilated with adenosine and were arrested with an elevated potassium concentration. after a stabilization period, the hearts were perfused with a buffered fixative for some minutes to obtain a nonvital vasculature. after fixation, perfusion was switched back to control for some minutes. the hearts were then perfused with a medium c ...	1988	3354693
[biologically active compounds from the aqueous extract of urtica dioica].	from the water extract of the roots of urtica dioica (stinging nettle) a polysaccharide fraction was isolated which revealed activity in the carrageenan rat paw edema model and lymphocyte transformation test. ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration of this fraction afforded 4 different polysaccharides, one of which reduced dose dependent hemolysis in the classical pathway of the complement test. the urtica dioica lectin (uda) was reisolated and found to stimulate the proliferation of huma ...	1989	2813580
[experience in treating digestive organ diseases with medicinal plants].	results are reported of treatment of chronic hyposecretory gastritis, chronic hepatocholecystitis and angiocholitis by a herbal complex. the herbal composition included achillea millefolium, urtica dioica, cichorium (aboveground part), polygonum, matricaria chamomilla (flowers), helichrysum arenarium, calendula (flowers), corn stigmas, humulus lupulus (racemes) in proportion 3:3:1:1:2:1:1:2:1 respectively. the herbal decoction is to be taken 3 times daily before meals. diet n 5 (pevzner scheme) ...	2009	2750130
glycaemic effects of traditional european plant treatments for diabetes. studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice.	twelve plants used for the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in northern europe were studied using normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice to evaluate effects on glucose homeostasis. the plants were administered in the diet (6.25% by weight) and/or as decoctions or infusions in place of drinking water, to coincide with the traditional method of preparation. treatment for 28 days with preparations of burdock (arctium lappa), cashew (anacardium occidentale), dandelion (taraxacum officinal ...	1989	2743711
contact urticaria due to the common stinging nettle (urtica dioica)--histological, ultrastructural and pharmacological studies.	a frequent cause of contact urticaria is skin exposure to the common stinging nettle (urtica dioica). the urticaria is accompanied by a stinging sensation lasting longer than 12 h. little is known of the cellular and molecular mechanism of stinging-nettle urticaria. after preliminary pharmacological analysis of pro-inflammatory activity in nettle stings, the cellular response of mononuclear cells, polymorphonuclear cells and mast cells was examined in six people 5 min and 12 h after nettle conta ...	1991	2025924
a technique for detecting antifungal activity of proteins separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.	a technique was developed for the detection of antifungal activity of proteins after discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under native conditions. the antifungal activity is detected as growth inhibition zones in a homogeneous fungal lawn, grown in an agar layer spread on top of the polyacrylamide gel. the position of proteins with antifungal activity can be determined on a diffusion blot prepared from the same gel. the technique is illustrated for three antifungal plant proteins, i. ...	1991	1889394
mouse t-lymphocyte activation by urtica dioica agglutinin. ii.--original pattern of cell activation and cytokine production induced by uda.	urtica dioica agglutinin (uda) is a t-lymphocyte-specific polyclonal activator that differs from cona, the classical mouse t-cell mitogen, by inducing a late and limited proliferation of a distinct t-cell subset recruited among both cd4+ and cd8+ lymphocytes. we investigated the possibility that the particular kinetics may originate from uda-specific activation processes in which the known early mandatory signals were completed only after an extended delay. we report that the time of contact req ...	1992	1439142
mouse t-lymphocyte activation by urtica dioica agglutinin. i.--delineation of two lymphocyte subsets.	urtica dioica agglutinin (uda) is a mouse t-lymphocyte-specific mitogen endowed with proliferative characteristics different from cona, the prototypic t-lymphocyte mitogen. in particular, uda induces 2-3-fold-reduced thymidine incorporation as compared to cona. in an attempt to define the basis of this reduced proliferation, we analysed whether uda binds to a unique subset of t lymphocytes or whether it activates only a t-cell subset. cytofluorimetric analysis showed that this lectin binds unifo ...	1992	1439141
the gene for stinging nettle lectin (urtica dioica agglutinin) encodes both a lectin and a chitinase.	chitin-binding proteins are present in a wide range of plant species, including both monocots and dicots, even though these plants contain no chitin. to investigate the relationship between in vitro antifungal and insecticidal activities of chitin-binding proteins and their unknown endogenous functions, the stinging nettle lectin (urtica dioica agglutinin, uda) cdna was cloned using a synthetic gene as the probe. the nettle lectin cdna clone contained an open reading frame encoding 374 amino aci ...	1992	1375935
the mannose-specific plant lectins from cymbidium hybrid and epipactis helleborine and the (n-acetylglucosamine)n-specific plant lectin from urtica dioica are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus replication in vitro.	a series of four mannose(man)-, three n-acetylglucosamine (glcnac)n-, ten n-acetylgalactosamine/galactose(galnac/gal)-, one 5-acetylneuraminic acid (alpha-2,3-gal/galnac)- and one 5-acetylneuroaminic acid(alpha-2,6-gal/gal-nac)-specific plant agglutinins were evaluated for their antiviral activity in vitro. the mannose-specific lectins from the orchid species cymbidium hybrid (ca), epipactis helleborine (eha) and listera ovata (loa) were highly inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( ...	1992	1329650
hypoglycemic effect of plants used in mexico as antidiabetics.	the objective of this work is to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of 12 "antidiabetic" plants used in mexico. the studies were performed using 27 healthy rabbits with the gastric administration of water, tolbutamide or decoction of the "antidiabetic" plant before the induction of temporary hyperglycemia by subcutaneous injection of 50% dextrose solution (4 ml/kg of weight) at the beginning of the experiment and after 60 min. blood glucose was determined every 60 min for a period of 5 h. tolbu ...	1992	1308793
[weal-formation by utrica dioica. an intravital reaction? (author's transl)].	the question concerning the intravital and postmortal mechanism of urticarial weal after contact with nettles (urtica dioica) was investigated in corpses, animal experiments and voluntary trials. no nettle weals could be induced in corpses or postmortally in experiments with albino rats (witstar strain). when animals were exposed to nettle-stings immediately before decapitation only 2 od 12 rats developed weals postmortally. however, the diameter of such weals was only 30% of that of weals produ ...	1975	1217202
food induced esterase phenocopies in the snail cepaea nemoralis.	hepatopancreatic extracts from the snail cepaea nemoralis, assayed straight from the field, often contain three or four heavily staining esterase zones which migrate to the cathodal end of polyacrylamide disc gels during electrophoresis. previous breeding results showed that the heavily straining zones appeared allelic but to incorporate these multibanded phenotypes, a super gene of five closely linked loci was tentatively proposed. further breeding work again failed to demonstrate multiple zone ...	1989	1061709
localization of the tri- and digalactosyl diglyceride in the thylakoid membrane with serological methods.	trigalactosyl diglyceride was isolated from leaves of urtica dioica and characterized by thin layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and by its fatty acid composition. an antiserum to the trigalactolipid was obtained by immunization of rabbits. by means of inhibition experiments with oligosaccharides and mono- and digalactosyl glycerol it was demonstrated that the antibodies are directed towards the alpha-galactosyl-(1 leads to 6)-alpha-galactosyl-(1 leads to 6)-beta-galactosyl-(1 leads to ...	1976	62464