Résumé:
The aim of this work is to identify phytochemical compounds and to estimate in vitro the anti-haemolytic activity of extracts from the aerial and underground parts of the burning nettle ‘Urtica urens L’ against haemolysis induced by hypotonia, H2O2 and heat. The phytochemical results show that this species has a group of secondary metabolites, namely flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins and quinones in the aqueous infusion and decoction extracts. Tannins and sterols are detected in hydroalcoholic and chloroformic extracts. For the roots: terpenoids, alkaloids, quinones, flavonoids and reducing compounds are mainly present in the aqueous decoction.
The 50% diluted infusion extract and the crude decoction gave good protection of erythrocytes against hypotonic haemolysis (induced by Na Cl) with a protection rate of 51.50% and 73.39% respectively. The results of the anti-haemolytic activity in the presence of Nettle extracts against heat indicate that whatever the dilutions for all the extracts, at a temperature of 45°C the anti-haemolytic activity is positive. The anti-haemolytic activity against H2O2 is positive for the crude extracts of the infusion and decoction with a maximum protection rate for the infused and decocted, which is 83.73 and 66.46%, respectively.
The protective effect of the crude decoction of the root parts of Urtica urens is positive against hypotonia, thermohaemolysis and chemical toxicity by H2O2.
