IN VIVO EVALUATION OF THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF URTICA DIOICA ROOTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

KAJIAN AKTIVITAS IMUNOMODULATOR EKSTRAK ETANOL AKAR JELATANG (Urtica dioica L.) SECARA IN VIVO: NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Urtica dioica L. is a herbal plant belonging to the family Urticaceae and is known to contain various bioactive compounds with broad pharmacological potential, particularly as an immunomodulatory agent. This plant has long been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, anemia, urinary tract disorders, and inflammatory conditions. This study aims to review the immunomodulatory potential of Urtica dioica L. based on its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological findings reported in five recent scientific journals. The method employed was a literature review using a comparative approach to experimental data from in vitro, in vivo, and preliminary clinical studies. The review results indicate that Urtica dioica L. contains flavonoids, phenolic compounds, sterols, vitamins, and minerals that play important roles in immune response modulation, primarily through enhancement of immune cell activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and antioxidant activity. In addition, several studies have reported other therapeutic potentials, such as antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities, which further support its role in maintaining immune system balance. Preliminary clinical studies have also demonstrated promising immunomodulatory effects with a favorable safety profile. This review highlights the potential of Urtica dioica L. to be developed as a phytopharmaceutical immunomodulatory agent. However, large-scale, well-controlled clinical trials are still required to confirm its efficacy and safety for broader clinical application.