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The following text presents some studies on the relationship between nettle (Urtica Dioica) and oxidative stress. You will find their full references in the bibliography.
Tody et al. from the University of Budapest conducted a study in 2005 on the markers of oxidative stress in the brains of rats that were given dried nettle leaves in their diet. The conclusions of their study are that nettle leaves helped reduce the presence of free radicals in the brain. They concluded that nettle is a very good antioxidant and anti-apoptotic agent that supports the survival of brain cells.
Similar studies on the antioxidant activity of nettle extracts were conducted by Cetinus et al. in 2005 and Chrubasik et al. in 2007.
The study by Cetinus evaluated the level of malondialdehyde in the muscles of rats, which is an indicator of the amount of oxidative stress in the body, as it is the final product of lipid peroxidation. This means that the higher the MDA level, the more cell membranes have been affected by oxidative stress.
This study demonstrated that rats injected with nettle extract had a significantly lower MDA level compared to control rats. Therefore, the conclusions of this study are that nettle extract reduced oxidative stress in muscle cells.
In addition to its concentration of antioxidant elements (flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene), nettle contains 1 to 4% natural silica. Although less well-known, the antioxidant role of silicon has also been demonstrated in numerous studies, particularly in the protection it provides against heavy metals.
In 2013, Liu from Peking University demonstrated that silicon limits the absorption of heavy metals in plants and reduces the oxidative stress caused by them. It also has a particularly protective role against aluminum, which is implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis.
It binds to the toxic compound, reducing its toxicity and bioavailability. It also enhances the effectiveness of antioxidant enzymes and chelates heavy metals. Domingo et al. in 2011, from the University of Catalonia in Spain, showed that silicon supplementation reduces aluminum absorption and its accumulation in the brain.