Suitability of Nettle Fiber for Textile Production

Nettle plants widely exist in China, but up to now there is no research regarding Chinese nettle fiber properties, especially about its spinnability. This paper has studied the properties of Chinese nettle fiber and its spinnability. The research results show that the average length of nettle fiber is about 34 mm, the nettle fiber fineness ranging from 0.589 to 0.769 tex. Nettle fiber has high breaking strength, low breaking extension and high initial modulus. Both the biochemical method and chemical method can meet the requirement of nettle degumming, with the residual being less than 4%. Nettle fiber can be utilised as textile material and can be spun in rotor-spinning machines after well degummed.

Antimicrobial Effectiveness on Selected Bacterial Species and Alkaloid and Saponin Content of <i>Rosa nutkana</i>C. Presl (Nootka Rose) and <i>Urtica dioica</i>L. (Stinging Nettle) Extracts

Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana C. Presl) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) have been traditionally used in the treatment of skin infection by Indigenous peoples of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The main objective of this study was to examine the antibacterial efficacy of extracts of Nootka rose and stinging nettle against the common pathogenic skin bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Indigenous science and standard methods of analysis. The Indigenous science method of plant extraction by steeping as advised by the Traditional Knowledge keeper was performed to examine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) by serial dilution and bacterial population counts. Soxhlet extractions and Kirby Bauer disc sensitivity testing showed that Nootka rose extracts possessed antibacterial effectiveness against all three bacterial species while stinging nettle extracts were effective against M. luteus. Results for MIC and MBC indicated antibacterial activity against M. luteus and S. aureus for the Nootka rose when using full-strength solutions;all three bacterial species exhibited growth when undiluted stinging nettle treatments were used. When considering bacterial population counts for S. aureus, results indicated that only the Nootka rose treatment offered effective inhibition. Chemical analysis showed that alkaloid percentage was greater in the stinging nettle (0.17%) than Nootka rose (0.07%), while saponin percentage was greater in the Nootka rose (0.87%) than stinging nettle (0.17%). Overall, Nootka rose showed a greater level of antibacterial effectiveness than stinging nettle by Indigenous and Western scientific methods of plant extract preparation.

Effect of nettle(Urtica dioica) extract on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in male rabbits

Objective:To investigate the antioxidant ef ect of an orally administered ethanol extract of nettle(Urtica dioica) and its protective role in preventing or ameliorating oxidative stress as a major factor in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male rabbits. Methods: Twenty rabbits were divided into 4 equal groups:(G1) control group,(G2) gentamicin treated group(100 mg/kg),(G3) nettle treated group(100 mg/kg),(G4) combination treated group with both gentamicin(100 mg/kg) and nettle(100 mg/kg) for 10 days. The antioxidant properties of nettle were evaluated using dif erent antioxidant tests, such as determination of glutathione and malondialdehyde levels and total phenolic content analysis. Results: Biochemical and histopathological study revealed that gentamicin caused nephrotoxicity observed clearly in the histopathological section of the kidney in the gentamicin treated group. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were biochemical indicators for nephrotoxicity which increased signii cantly in gentamicin treated group; other groups have no signii cant change in these two parameters. Nettle extract protected the rabbits from alteration in the level of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine when given after inducing of gentamicin nephrotoxicity. The nettle treated group showed a great ef ect as an antioxidant factor by increasing the glutathione level and reducing malondialdehyde level. No signii cant changes in biochemical parameters and no renal histopathological changes observed in the groups treated with nettle extract, which meant nettle had powerful antioxidant activity. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be assumed that the nephroprotective ef ect shown by nettle in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity can reserve intracellular levels of biological pathways and supportively enhance excretion of toxic levels of gentamicin.

Importance of Nettle on Crop Protection

Organic farming has an important place in agricultural economy.However few studies talk about biological control of many enemies groups.This study aims to illustrate nettle efficiency as preventive fight towards both insect’s outbreaks and disease infestation.It consists of verifying if nettle extract has curative properties towards gummosis citrus or stops development disease and we evaluated its efficiency on main insects’pests of bean.Moreover nettle field of insects was tested if it can protect bean.Investigational device was realized during season crop 2017-2019 and took place in market gardens around the city Antananarivo(Madagascar).Nettle field of insects’efficiency was compared with witness plots and field of insects which composed with various companions’plants(maize,nettle,crucifers).Each companions’specie grows on 1 m width and the length depends on plot size which needs protection.And nettle extract modalities were compared with witness untreated and reference treatment such as garlic extract for insecticides plants and Bordeaux mixture for mineral fungicide.Each bean plot has a surface of 20 m2spaced out at least 0.5 cm.Three repetitions were realized for each modality.For citrus disease evaluation was realized on 10 observed plants that each plant constitutes one modality.Evolution of pest number for bean and symptoms of gummosis(yellow leaf importance and phytosanitary situation after treatment)was observed as parameters.As results,nettle extract has a better efficiency to control bean aphids as reference treatment and restores citrus gumminess as much as treated with mineral fungicide.Similarly,nettle field of insects presented the same efficiency to allow diversifying pest as diversification field insects’.In sum use of nettle extract needs tracking on gummosis citrus if there was reverse disease.Nevertheless,nettle has appreciable protection properties on crops which can help farmers to produce in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.

Effect of Dimethoate on Object Recognition Memory in Wistar Rats and Essay of Treatment with Nettle

Pesticides were economically important chemicals in agriculture. Their use has permitted agricultural progress, through the eradication of harmful insect and the fight against vectors of disease. However, several studies question the beneficial effects of organophosphorus compounds, showing that their deregulated use causes various problems of environmental pollution and human health. The present study shows that chronic exposure to a subtoxic dose of dimethoate is likely to affect cognitive and behavioral functions of rats (both males and females). Our results show that exposure to dimethoate affects both short and long-term memory capacities. The short-term memory results are more pronounced. Treatment with nettle extract allowed a significant improvement in cognitive and behavioral performance of the rats after their exposure to dimethoate.

Aphidophagous guilds on nettle （Urtica dioica） strips close to fields of green pea, rape and wheat

The common nettle （Urtica dioica L.） is a perennial and cosmopolitan plant species and is known to be the source of food for a great diversity of insects. To understand the importance of the nettle in agro-ecosystems, a field experiment was carried out in an experimental farm at Gembloux （Belgium） to study the effect of nettle margin strips on aphid and aphidophagous populations in close field crops, namely wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）, green pea （Pisum sativum L.） and rape （Brassicae napus L.）. The aphids and related beneficial populations were weekly assessed, from March to August 2005, by visual observations in two plots per field crop. A higher abundance of aphidophagous beneficials was collected in nettle strips when compared to the field crops. Particularly, the presence of predatory anthocorids, mirids and green lacewings was observed on nettle only. Nevertheless, the most abundant aphid predatory family, the Coccinellidae, was distributed in both environments, in nettle strips and in crop fields. The field margin supported a significantly higher density ofHarmonia axyridis than the field crops. In contrast, the field crops, green pea particularly, supported a higher density of Coccinella septempunctata. The distribution of the aphidophagous species, mainly the ladybirds, was discussed in relation to the host plant and related aphid species and their potential effect on integrated pest management.

Effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) powder on laying performance,egg quality,and serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of stinging nettle powder(SNP) on laying performance,egg quality,and some selected serum biochemical parameters of quails.One hundred and forty-four 10-wk-old Japanese quails(initial body weight=199±18 g) were divided into 3 dietary treatment groups(basic diet without SNP [SNPO],SNPO with 3% SNP [SNP3],SNPO with 6% SNP [SNP6]) with 4 replicates of 12 quails for a rearing period of 12 wk.At 22 wk of age,the final body weights of the SNP3 and SNP6 groups were significantly(P=0.001) reduced compared to that of the SNPO group.Daily feed intake was not statistically different among the groups.The mean number of eggs laid ranged from 65 to 69 with laying rates from 76.8% to 82.1%.The percentage of cracked eggs was not significantly different among the groups and ranged from 1.6% to 1.9%.The egg weight was similar and the feed conversion ratio was closer among the groups.The egg yolk cholesterol,serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels in the SNP6 group were significantly reduced(P <0.001) compared to those of the SNPO group.Serum Ca,P and Mg were not significantly influenced by the supplementation.In conclusion,the results demonstrated that the supplementation of SNP to the quail diet at the level of 6%reduced quail egg yolk cholesterol,serum total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels and did not negatively influence quail performance.

A review on medicinal plants in north region of India: traditional use in Vedic culture and their pharmacological properties culture and their pharmacological properties

Medicinal plants are widely employed for healing reasons in many native systems of medicine and are becoming increasingly popular in modern culture as alternatives to manufactured medications.The current study is a descriptive review in which papers were searched from several databases such as Springer,Wiley,Taylor and Francis,Elsevier,etc.It is time to rethink the way we improve our immune systems and seek evidence-based treatments that best use plant-based medicines to benefit patients.Bioactive principles are responsible for medicinal plants’therapeutic actions and give limitless chances for novel drug leads because of their exceptional availability of chemical variety.The chemical characteristics of the included bioactive components determine whether standardized plant extracts are beneficial or poisonous.A summary of research papers on plants such as garlic,aloe vera,stinging nettle,saffron,clove,holy basil,turmeric,cinnamon,giloe,liquorice,and aloe vera having bioactive molecules and cures for several diseases such as influenza virus,gastrointestinal cancer neurodegenerative disorder,cardiovascular diseases,urinary disorder,diabetes,skin disease,obesity,and respiratory disorder is included in this overview.

全世界民族音乐学家，联合起来——兼论民族音乐学中国学派的形成和学术特点

本文受美国著名民族音乐学家Bruno Nettl教授的启发,对民族音乐学在中国的发展进行了思考,并对"民族音乐学中国学派"的形成和学术特点进行了展望和分析。

An Overview on the Progress of Chemical Constituents and Bioactivities of Plants in Urticaceae during 2000-2010

Urticaceae includes about 1300 species in 47 genera which largely spread in wet tropical regions,and 341 species in 25 genera are in China.Some species are used in Chinese folk medicine.So far,studies on chemistry and pharmacology of Urticaceous plants are mainly focused on nettle of Urtica L.In this review,the chemical researches on 35 new compounds and related pharmacological effects of the plants in Urticaceae reported during 2000-2010 are described.The 35 new compounds belong to the classes of lignan,secolignan,norlignan,flavonoid,alkaloid,sesquiterpenoid,triterpenoid,sterol,and sphingolipid.The main bioactivities include cytotoxic,antitumor,antimicrobial,antifungal,anti-BPH,anti-HIV,antidiabetic,hypolipidemic,5α-reductase inhibitory,hair regrowth promotion,and anti-oxidative activities.