Chromato-mass-spectrometric assessment of volatile components for nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

The species of nettle (Urtica dioica) are used long ago as hemostaticum for hemorrhages of various genesis both in non-traditional and in official medicine. Besides, the extractions of nettle possess hypolipidemic, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, prostatoprotective, adaptogenic properties, etc. Biologic activity of the nettle (Urtica dioica) is conditioned by the presence of various vitamins, carotenoids, proteins, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic and organic acids, β-cytosterol, volatile compounds and other components. The aim of our study was to investigate the qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatile content of nettle. The research has been done on aero-dried vegetable raw-material Urtica dioica L. (leaves), stocked in June 2014 in Zaporizhzhya region. Identification and assessment of a number for volatile components has been done on the chromatograph Agilent Technology 6890 N with mass-spectrometric detector 5973. Approximately 20 components have been revealed in the leaves of Urtica dioica: hexahydrofarnesilacetate (165,19 mc/kg) and squalene (99,59 mc/kg) are predominated. Phytol, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, nonacosane, etc. are presented in lesser number. The content of chrysanthenone, p-cymen-8-ol, verbenone, nerolidol, caryophyllene oxide, tricosane, tetracosane, heptacosane and untriacontane was insignificant (1,9% of the total amount of volatile components). Total number of volatile components in the leaves of Urtica dioica was 498,61 mc/mg. The research of qualitative composition and a number of volatile components in the leaves of Urtica dioica growing in Ukraine demonstrate expediency to carry out the further researches on the species Urtica dioica for using them in elaborating phytodrugs of complex action.