Intraspecific Variability of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

Abstract

The purpose of the work was to determine the intraspecific variability of the stinging nettle, in respect of the mass of leaves and their chemical composition, including the content of phenolic compounds and assimilative pigments. The objects of the study were 10 populations of nettle, originating from the eastern and southern part of Poland. The results obtained indicate a high level of variability between and within the populations investigated but not strictly related to their geographical locations. The mass of the leaves ranged from 0.19 to 0.28 kg dry weight (DW)/plant (Coefficient of variation (CV) = 16.33%). Using HPLC–DAD, four phenolic acids were detected, i.e., caffeoylmalic (570.97–1367.40 mg/100 g DW), chlorogenic (352.79–1070.83 mg/100 g DW), neochlorogenic (114.56–284.77 mg/100 g DW) and cichoric (58.31–189.52 mg/100 g DW) acids, with the last one differentiating populations to the highest degree (CV = 48.83%). All of the analyzed populations met the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph Eur 10th) concerning the minimum content of caffeoylmalic and chlorogenic acids in nettle leaves (not less than 0.3%). Within the flavonoid fraction, two compounds were identified, namely rutoside (917.05–1937.43 mg/100 g DW, CV = 21.32%) and hyperoside (42.01–289.45 mg/100 g DW; CV = 55.26%). The level of chlorophyll a ranged from 3.82 to 4.49 mg/g DW, chlorophyll b from 1.59 to 2.19 mg/g DW, while the content of carotenoids varied from 2.34 to 2.60 mg/100 g DW. Given all the traits investigated, the level of a population’s polymorphism (CV) was visibly higher within a population than between populations. Population no. 4 was distinguished by the highest mass of leaves, and the highest content of rutoside, while population no. 2 was distinguished by the highest content of hyperoside, caffeoylmalic and chlorogenic acid.

Boosting nutritional quality of Urtica dioica L. to resist climate change

“…(2023) , a similar content of coumaric, ellagic, and ferulic acid, as well as naringin was identified in nettle leaves as in our results. Caffeoylmalic acid was the most abundant and chlorogenic acid was the 2 nd most represented phenolic compound in nettle in the work of Koczkodaj et al. (2023) , and the same trend was observed in the results of the present study.…”

“…In another research, carried out by Dujmovićet al ( 2023), a similar content of coumaric, ellagic, and ferulic acid, as well as naringin was identified in nettle leaves as in our results. Caffeoylmalic acid was the most abundant and chlorogenic acid was the 2 nd most represented phenolic compound in nettle in the work of Koczkodaj et al (2023), and the same trend was observed in the results of the present study. Different levels of N can cause an increase or decrease in different phenolic compounds, which was the case in this study.…”

Protective Effect of Urtica dioica Extract against Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Fibroblasts

“…In general, the phytochemical profile and the results of the quantitative analysis were consistent with the majority of the literature data, and the values obtained were within the reported range. According to previously published papers, caffeoylmalic acid (CMa) and caffeoylquinic acid (CQa) were identified as the predominant constituents of U. dioica [24,[28][29][30][31]; however, their content varied depending on the time of harvesting, region, or processing method. The type of extraction solvent and the method of sample preparation could also significantly affect the results due to their impact on extraction efficacy [3,24,28,32].…”

إجمالي محتويات الفينول والفلافونويد وفيتامين ج مع نشاط مضاد للأكسدة لأوراق القراص التي تنمو في زاخو ، إقليم كوردستان ، العراق

“…This plant grows in nitrogen-rich soil 11 . In traditional medicine, the entire plant is employed to treat kidney stones allergies, burns, diabetes, leukopenia, internal bleeding, rashes and other ailments 12 . In our society (Kurds), Kurdistan Region, Iraq, U. dioica L., known as Kazink, is considered as herb and used as a tea choice.…”

“…Moreover, the leaves of nettle have a significant amount of biologically active substances, including terpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, chlorophyll, amino acids, vitamins, tannins, carbohydrates and minerals 10,12,13 . Additionally, U. dioica L. extracts have antiinflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antimicrobial and antiaging properties due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids compounds in nettle 14,15 .…”