Small Nettle
Urtica urens · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (12 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Small Nettle, scientifically known as Urtica urens, is a stinging herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia. Characterized by its intense prickles, it contains bioactive compounds used in traditional medicine. Often utilized for its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, this potent species plays a significant role in herbal pharmacology.
Names
Common Names
- burning nettle
- dog nettle
- dwarf nettle
- small nettle
- English stinging nettle
- lesser nettle
- lesser stinging nettle
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Forniquilla
- Picamoscas
- Urtica iners
- Ortiga menor
- Yerba del ciego
- Ronchona
- Picasarna
- Pica manos
- Urtica quadristipulata
- Ortiga moheña
- Urtica verticillata
- Urtica intermedia
- Urtica ovalifolia
- Urtica parvula
- Urtica minor
- Ortiga
- ortiga
German:
- Kleine Brennnessel
- Kleine Brennessel
- Eiternessel
- Kleine Brennessel
- Kleine Brennnessel
French:
- Ortie brûlante
- Petite Ortie
- petite ortie, ortie brûlante
- ortie brûlante
- petite ortie
- ortie
- Ortie brulante
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Urtica urensSynonyms
- Urtica urens var. lanceolata
- Urtica trianae
- Urtica minor
- Urtica atlantica
- Urtica parvula
- Urtica quadristipulata
- Urtica cubensis
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling into the family Urticaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Urtica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Urticaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Urtica | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented in the coastal areas of Denmark and throughout the landscape of Finland. It can also be found growing within the Faroe Islands and across much of Great Britain. Furthermore, its geographical range extends to the unique environment of Iceland. These locations highlight the plant's affinity for the northernmost territories of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as the stinging nettle, utilizes its leaves as its most prominent and pharmacologically active component. These leaves are characterized by a dense covering of fine, hollow hairs called trichomes, which contain irritating chemicals that cause a stinging sensation upon contact with the skin. Beyond this defensive mechanism, the leaves serve as a vital part of the plant's medicinal profile, as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds used in various traditional remedies.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Urtica urens has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Polyphenol, Tannin, polyphenols.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Polyphenol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| polyphenols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoid
- Pharmaceutical biology
Polyphenol
- Pharmaceutical biology
Tannin
- Pharmaceutical biology
polyphenols
- Revista de biologia tropical
Activities
Urtica urens has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Drug design, development and therapy (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Urtica urens has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiolytic.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| anxiolytic | Behavioral and brain functions : BBF (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| EtOH (70%) and WA extracts | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| EtOH and WA extracts | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol (EtOH) and water (WA) solvents | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hydro-alcoholic extracts | Drug design, development and therapy (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extract | Behavioral and brain functions : BBF (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extracts | Behavioral and brain functions : BBF (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |