Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

Other Names:

Nettle Leaf, Common Nettle, Gerrais, Isirgan, Kazink, Ortiga, Grande Ortie, Ortie, Urtiga, Chichicaste, Brennessel

Benefits

Antiparasitic
Antibacterial
Antihypertensive

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial herb of the Urticaceae family that is a commonly found weed in temperate and tropical regions of Americas, Asia and Europe. It is known for its stinging trichomes along its stems and leaves. Specific applications studied in poultry include:

Antiparasitic: In British Columbia, it is used for endoparasites in poultry. A leaf infusion (2.5 g dry plant leaves infused in 1 L boiled water) protected rats.
Deworming: If birds are provided free range access to this plant, they will often nibble on it as a form of self-medication against internal parasites.
Antibacterial: It possess antibacterial potency against MRSA isolates and may be used as a natural antiseptics and antimicrobial agents in medicine.

Poultry Specific Studies

Type	Plant Part	Dosage	Specific use	Results	Ref
Chickens		4% of diet	Heat stress	Alleviated the negative effects of heat stress by decreasing cortisol, TC and tissue damage indices.	M Farahani et al., 2022
Hens			egg quality	Increased shell thickness, yolk n-3 PUFA levels, and yolk color, and reduced cholesterol contents of the yolk and serum without any negative impacts on health or laying performance	J Zhang et al., 2020

References

Moula, Nassim, et al. "Effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) powder on laying performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails" Animal Nutrition 5.4 (2019)
Ahmadipour, Behnam, and Fariborz Khajali.. "Expression of antioxidant genes in broiler chickens fed nettle (Urtica dioica) and its link with pulmonary hypertension" Animal Nutrition 5.3 (2019)
Sharma, Shashi, et al. "Immunomodulatory effect of Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) in broiler chickens" Veterinary and Animal Science 6 (2018)
TABARI, M. A., GHAZVINIAN, K., IRANI, M., & MOLAEI, R.. "EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF NETTLE ROOT EXTRACT AND PUMPKIN SEED OIL ON PRODUCTION TRAITS AND INTESTINAL MICROFLORA IN BROILER CHICKENS" Bulgarian Journal of Veterinary Medicine (2016)
?andru, Carmen Dana, et al. "Urtica dioica alcoholic extract increases the cell-mediated innate immune potential in chickens" Industrial Crops and Products 88 (2016)
Uyar, A., Z. Yener, and A. Dogan. "Protective effects of Urtica dioica seed extract in aflatoxicosis: histopathological and biochemical findings" British poultry science 57.2 (2016)
Examine.com. "Stinging Nettle" (2016)
Salehzadeh A, Asadpour L, Naeemi AS, Houshmand E.. "Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts of sambucus ebulus and urtica dioica against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus." African Journal of Traditional Complementry Alternative Medicine (2014)
Safamehr, A., Fallah, F., & Nobakht, A. "Growth performance and biochemical parameters of broiler chickens on diets consist of chicory (Cichorium intybus) and nettle (Urtica dioica) with or without multi-enzyme" Iranian Journal of Applied Animal Science (2013)
Safamehr, A., Mirahmadi, M., & Nobakht, A.. "Effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) medicinal plant on growth performance, immune responses, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens" Intl Res J Appl Basic Sci (2012)
Kukri, Z. Z., Topali-Trivunovi, N. L., Kukavica, M. B., Matoš, B. S., Pavii, S. S., Boroja, M. M., & Savi, A. V. . "Characterization of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of nettle leaves (Urtica dioica L.)." APTEFF (2012)
Mansoub, N. H. "Comparison of effects of using nettle (Urtica dioica) and probiotic on performance and serum composition of broiler chickens. " Global Veterinaria (2011)
Lans C, Turner N.. "Organic parasite control for poultry and rabbits in British Columbia, Canada." J Ethnobiol Ethnomed (2011)
C Hunter. "Nettle History, Folklore, Myth and Magic" The Practical Herbalist (2010)
Guarrera, P. M. . "Traditional antihelmintic, antiparasitic and repellent uses of plants in Central Italy." Journal of ethnopharmacology (1999)

Stinging Nettle

Urtica dioica

Other Names:

Benefits

Poultry Specific Studies

References

PoultryDVM.com

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