Extraction of nettle (Urtica dioica L.) toxins under natural biting conditions

Abstract

A group of natural poisons from various animals, plants and microorganic sources can be extracted, produced and processed. Following ten years of field and laboratory research and studies, resulted from the creation of the first live collection of Iranian nettle ecotypes (LCINs) at the University of Zanjan, the feasibility of fresh and live extraction of nettle poison in pristine and untouched conditions was examined. In this study, the ability of tree tissues to absorb, hunt and sink nettle hairs, including styrofoam, nanofabric and sponge of the same length (15 cm) and same diameter (4 cm) having the same size of pores, was studied in four selected nettle ecotypes, including ecotypes of Mashhad, Mazandaran, Gilan and Zanjan provinces, Iran. For all four ecotypes on the three studied surfaces, the mean number of fully stuck and sunken needles, broken and sunken needles on the surface tissue, pores torn by plant needles and pores containing pale green liquid were counted and fully scrutinized. The results showed that sponges can be a suitable texture for hunting nettle hairs for extracting fresh and raw live venom of approximately 5 ml on a sponge source for 5 min. Based on GCMS analysis of total venom extraction resulting profile from the studied protocols had more than 10 compounds including some important sulfur containing such as: 2,2-dimethyl-propyl 2,2-dimethylpropanesulfinyl sulfone and 2-ethylthiolane, S,S-dioxide, etc. In this method, there is no need to remove the plant and stem. Its unique advantage is in continuous poison harvests during the 6-month growing season. Based on published research, this is the first report of live extraction of nettle medicinal poison.