N
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Nettle) — Class 1 (AHP). “Hazards and/or
side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). None known for herb, rare GI upsets
for roots (KOM). Herbage contraindicated in fluid retention due to reduced cardiac or renal activity,
rarely causing allergic reactions (PHR). Adverse effects of root: mild GI complaints (occasionally)
(AEH). The urtication can be painful and long-lasting, in some inducing a black-and-blue reaction.
No fatalities are reported in the U.S. CAN cautions that amines are irritant. Because it is reputed
to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be
avoided. May interfere with blood pressure, CNS, and diabetes medication (CAN). Being a nettle
fan, I had never heard of it before and was reluctant to try it when my friend Vic said that the root
tea almost did him in. It’s almost as though he read the book, “Consumption of nettle tea has caused
gastric irritation, a burning sensation of the skin, oedema, and oliguria” (CAN). Not for use in
severely allergic patients, especially those with tendency toward anaphylaxis (WAM). Schulz et al.
(1998) report on >4000 patients taking 600–1200 mg extract/day for 6 months. Only 35 showed
side effects, 0.65% GI complaints, 9 (0.19%) dermatosis, and 2 (>0.05%) reporting hyperhydrosis
(SHT). No contraindications are stated (SHT). Varro Tyler cautions against self-medication with
BPH. Whenever treating BPH, a practitioner should be involved. Base-line levels of PSA should
be established before considering an herbal treatment (JAD). Even JAMA admits that there is no
hard proof for any intervention in BPH. Since hospitals kill 200,000 Americans a year, and prostate
cancer fewer than 50,000, I’ll opt for nettle tea and sitosterol-rich nuts as the drug of choice for
prostate protection.
Extracts (Nettle) — Infusion LD50 = 1929 mg/kg ivn rat. HOH extract LD50 = 1721 mg/kg ivn
rat. The tea was well tolerated at levels of 1310 mg/kg orally (Bombardelli and Morazzoni, 1997).
LD50 infusion 1310 orl rat (MAB). (9Z-11E)-13-Hydroxy,9,11-octadecadienoic-acid, 14 octa-
cosanol, oleanolic acid, secoisolariciresinol, and ursolic acid are listed as weak to moderate aro-
matase-inhibitors found in the methanolic root extract. Suggesting synergy, HH3 gives IC50’s for
aromatase inhibition; extract: 338 μg/ml; aqueous extract = >200 μg/ml; butanolic fractions: 109
μg/ml; ethanolic-fraction 41 μg/ml; 9-hydroxy,10,12- octadecadienoic-acid = 11 μg/ml, and GLA,
the compound is so well represented in another edible weed, evening primrose, at 10 μg/ml (HH3).
Aromatase is a key enzyme in steroid hormone metabolism, and its inhibition may partially explain
the activity of the roots in BPH. The polysaccharide fraction of the aqueous root extract show
prolonged antiedemic and antiinflammatory activity (40 mg/kg orl rat). Ethanolic extract also
inhibits elastase, a destructive enzyme in the inflammatory process (IC50=68 μg/ml). The isolectin
(UDA), abundant in the roots, may contribute to the antiinflammatory and antiprostatic activity of
the extracts. Aqueous extracts interfere with, dose-dependently (0.6–10 mg/ml), the binding of
dihydrotestosterone to SHBG (with specific receptors on human prostatic membranes). The alco-
holic extract, UDA, and stigmast-4-en-3-one were inactive. At concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml, some
root extracts inhibited Na+, K+-ATPases 27.6–81.5%. Stigmast-4-en-3-one, stigmasterol, and
campesterol inhibited Na+, K+-ATPases 23–67% at concentrations of 1-1000 μM. Such inhibition
may influence prostate cell metabolism and growth (Bombardelli and Morazzoni, 1997). Root
polysaccharide extracts anticomplementary (IC50=<50 μg/ml (HH3)). Strange that an herb should
inject so many neuroactive compounds, acetylcholine, choline, formic acid, histamine, leukotrienes,
and serotonin (PH2) into unsuspecting grazers.NEW JERSEY TEA (Ceanothus americanus L.) ++Synonyms: C. americanus var. intermedius (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray, C. intermedius Pursh.
Activities (New Jersey Tea) — Abortifacient (f; DEM); Antiinflammatory (f; SHB); Antiseptic
(f; SHB); Antispasmodic (f; PH2; PNC; SHB); Astringent (1; DEM; FAD; HHB; PH2); Depu-
rative (f; DEM); Expectorant (1; FAD; PH2; SHB); Hemostat (1; PHR; PH2; SHB); Hepatotonic