THE EFFECT OF EXTRACTS OF THE ROOTS OF THE STINGING NETTLE (URTICA-DIOICA) ON THE INTERACTION OF SHBG WITH ITS RECEPTOR ON HUMAN PROSTATIC MEMBRANES

Extracts from the roots of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are use d in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The mechanisms und erlying this treatment have not been elucidated. We set out to determi ne whether specific extracts from U. dioica had the ability to modulat e the binding of sex hormone-binding globulin to its receptor on human prostatic membranes. Four substances contained in U. dioica were exam ined: an aqueous extract; an alcoholic extract; U. dioica agglutinin, and stigmasta-4-en-3-one. Of these, only the aqueous extract was activ e. It inhibited the binding of I-125-SHBG to its receptor. The inhibit ion was dose related, starting at about 0.6 mg/ml and completely inhib ited binding at 10 mg/ml.