In this report, inhibition effect of dry Urtica dioica L. leaves on stimulated lipid peroxidation with carbon tetrachloride in rats was studied..

Animales, with a total of twenty three, were examined in 3 groups; control (group 1), control+ carbon tetrachloride (group 2) and Urtica dioica L. + carbon tetrachloride (group 3). Rats in study group 3 were fed with dry Urtica dioica L. leaves. The rats in other groups were fed with normal diet. At the end of this period, one dose of CCl₄ (1ml/kg) was administered intraperitonaly to the rats in group 2. and 3. In control group, equal volume of olive oil was injected intraperitonaly to the rats. The plasma level of lipid peroxidase, ALT and AST enzymes, lipid peroxidase and glutathione levels in liver tissue were measured.

The plasma level of ALT and AST of rats in control+carbon tetrachloride group (group 2) was significantly higher compared to ones in Urtica dioica L.+carbon tetrachloride group (group 3). No significant difference in peroxide level was found among these groups. On the other hand, remarkable decrease was observed in the liver glutathione and lipid peroxide levels of rats in Urtica dioica L. + carbon tetrachloride group (group 3) compared to ones in control+ carbon tetrachloride group (group 2).

It was concluded that due to its inhibition effect on lipid peroxidation, Urtica Dioica L. has antioxidant properties.