Effects of Leaf Extract of Urtica Pilulifera L. on Male Reproductive System of Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Urtica pilulifera L. (U. pilulifera) is an annual plant from the family of Urticaceae that has been extensively cultivated in the Mediterranean region. This plant is also commonly known in Roman as Nettle and in Jordan as Qurraus [1,2]. For decades, crude extracts of plant species of U. pilulifera have long been used in many countries around the world as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including Diabetes Mellitus (DM) [3,4]. DM is mainly due to relatively low level of insulin production or an inability of the body to use insulin properly which, in turn, leads to hyperglycemia [5]. Hyperglycemia has been recently implicated in induction of oxidative stress which, in turn, leads to initiation and development of diabetic complications. Diabetic complications are many and include physical disability, kidney failure, visual impairment, cardiovascular disease and sexual dysfunction [6].