New insights into the indigenous knowledge of the uses of the common stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) in Rwanda

Abstract

The common stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr., ‘Igisura’) is one of the popular plants used for multiple purposes in Rwanda. This study aimed to get more insights into indigenous knowledge of the multiple uses of this plant in Rwanda. It was conducted in eleven administrative districts in September 2021. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 124 respondents who were chosen using the snowball sampling technique from locations where the stinging nettle grows or has been domesticated. In addition to face-to-face interviews, personal observations, and group discussions were organized at visited sites. Data were analyzed using SPSS. The uses of the common stinging nettle plant can be grouped into five categories: 1. Human medicine, 2. Veterinary medicine, 3. Human nutrition, 4. Animal feeding, and 5. Others. The stinging nettle is used in the form of cooked leaves (47%), leaf powder (39%), boiled leaves (8%), decoction (4%), infusion (1%), and fibers (1%). Stomach ulcers (37%) and hypertension (15%) are the most predominant diseases treated by stinging nettle products. Nearly all respondents (98%) agreed that domesticating the stinging nettle was important and indicated that they would be ready to grow it if they were assured of the market. Nettle products are widely sought to improve the health and well-being of both humans and animals. Yet, they are still scarce on the market. Hence, there is a need to promote the domestication of stinging nettle to increase its production and availability.

Keywords:

• Indigenous knowledge
• stinging nettle
• wild plants
• medicinal plants
• Rwanda

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Escudero-Gilete M. Luisa, Universidad de Sevilla, Nutrition and Bromatology, SPAIN

SUBJECTS:

• Anthropology - Soc Sci, Health & Society, Health Conditions

Introduction

Human beings have always used wild plants as food and medicine (Abbasi et al., 2013; Addis et al., 2001). Currently, wild plants are still contributing to the improvement of the quality of life for humans. They are a source of food, feed, forage, income, medicine, environment protection, fertilizers, shelters, and furniture, etc. (Bharucha & Pretty, 2010). The consumption of wild plants contributes to dietary diversity and improves food security for low-income people in developing countries (Shonte, 2021). Nettles are among the most used wild plant species in the world (Ding et al., 2021; Hassen, 2021).

Urticaceae, the nettle family (order Rosales), includes 54 genera and 2,625 species of herbs, shrubs, small trees, and a few vines distributed primarily in tropical regions (Britannica, 2023). The most well-known members of the nettle family are those that can inflict a painful sting, especially stinging nettle (such as Urtica dioica L. and Urtica massaica Mildbr.), the wood nettles (Laportea), and the Australian stinging trees (Dendrocnide) (Britannica, 2023). The Maasai stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) is the most common nettle species in East Africa (Maundu et al., 2009).

For centuries, dating back to Greek and Roman times, people in rural areas have relied on nettles as a healthy food source, particularly in the early spring months (Kregiel et al., 2018). Today, nettles are still a popular ingredient in modern European cuisine, where they are typically prepared as soup, steamed, or wilted vegetables. Cooked nettle can be substituted for spinach due to its comparable taste and texture. A pesto sauce, salad dressing, or dip made with raw nettles that have been blended can be a healthy alternative to the traditional ingredients. In Georgia, nettles are often paired with walnuts and boiled in a traditional cuisine, while in Romania, nettle leaves are used in a sour soup made with fermented wheat bran, vegetables, and young leaves (Kregiel et al., 2018). In Africa, stinging nettle leaves are also considered an indigenous nutritious vegetable for people in rural areas (Abbasi et al., 2013; Shonte & De Kock, 2017; Tumwet et al., 2014).

Nettle plants have been also used as a traditional remedy for healing a variety of diseases like abscesses, wounds, hemorrhoids, liver insufficiency; rheumatic pain; internal diseases, allergic itching, diabetes, nose bleeding, stomachache pain, diarrhea, and gonorrhea (DeFilipps & Krupnick, 2018; Gahamanyi et al., 2021; Mukazayire et al., 2011; Şen et al., 2022). Subsequently, this has sparked a significant amount of research interest in the chemical structure and pharmacological properties of the active compounds that induce therapeutic properties of common nettle. Several studies have reported various pharmacological properties from Urtica dioca L. including antioxidant properties, anti-diabetic properties, antiviral properties, hepatoprotective properties, anti‑hyperlipidemic properties, antimicrobial properties, diuretic activity, cardiovascular effect, anti‑inflammatory, analgesic and anti‑arthritic activity, anticancer, hypotensive effect, and immunomodulatory properties (Bhusal et al., 2022; Jan et al., 2017; Said et al., 2015; Semalty et al., 2017; Upton, 2013).

The leaves of Urtica dioca L. are rich in protein as the leaf powder may contain an average of 30% of protein (Kregiel et al., 2018). Nettle leaves are also rich in minerals like Calcium and Iron, and they contain various vitamins including A, C, D, E, F, K, P, and vitamin B-Complex (Adhikari et al., 2016). Those entire properties make the nettle leaves a good feed supplement for poultry and cows. Several studies have indicated that adding stinging nettle powder to the chicken diet improves carcass quality, egg production, and egg yolk color (Grigorova et al., 2022; Loetscher et al., 2013; Mansoub, 2011; Nasiri et al., 2011). Humphries and Reynolds (2014) demonstrated that it was possible to maintain milk production by replacing the dry grass silage with nettles in the diet of lactating dairy cows. Furthermore, nettle plants are reported to be rich in antibacterial compounds, so they can serve as alternative antibiotic growth promoters (Gülçin et al., 2004; Safamehr et al., 2012).

The most common nettle plant in East Africa, Urtica massaica Mildbr., has traditionally been widely used in nutrition and pharmacological preparations. The Maasai (Kenya and Tanzania) use it to treat stomachaches. In Kenya, it is also used to treat malaria, fractures, and venereal diseases. Moreover, the plant is also used to repel rats and to keep cattle out of crops (Grubben, 2004). Gorillas in Rwanda and DRC also eat the plant (Nahayo et al., 2008). In Rwanda, Urtica massaica Mildbr. (igisura) is among the traditional plants used in the treatment of diarrhea (Noel et al., 2021). Some studies in Rwanda confirmed that the stem of Urtica massaica Mildbr. is a natural antibiotic with the potential to treat diseases caused by Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella flexineri, and Staphylococcus aureus (Maniriho et al., 2021; Nahayo et al., 2008). Indeed, Urtica massaica Mildbr. is among wild edible plants that are widely used in Rwanda as a vegetable and herbal medicine. It was cited among wild edible plants with high potential to reduce the issue of food insecurity, especially during drought periods in rural areas of Rwanda (Mukazayire et al., 2011; Nsengimana et al., 2020; Ramathal & Ngassapa, 2001).

Indigenous knowledge has been proven to impact the daily lives of people and contribute to the development of local communities (Al-Roubaie, 2010). In fact, the management of indigenous knowledge of wild plants can be essential in the improvement of the food security and health of millions of developing nations (Lodhi & Mikulecky, 2010). Despite the well-reported potential contribution to the improvement of food security and disease treatment, the traditional knowledge of the uses of the common stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) has never been fully studied in Rwanda. It is against this background that this study was conducted with the prime objective of getting more insights into the indigenous knowledge of the uses of the common stinging nettle and prospects for its wide-scale domestication in Rwanda.

Materials and methods

Description of the study area

The study was conducted in eleven regions (districts) from four Provinces of Rwanda (Figure 1) in September 2021. The surveyed districts include Rwamagana, Kayonza, and Nyagatare in East Province; Muhanga, Ruhango, and Nyanza in South Province; Rubavu, Nyabihu, and Rutsiro in West Province; Musanze and Rulindo in North Province (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Location of respondents in surveyed districts of Rwanda.

Rwanda famously called, the ‘land of a thousand hills’, is located just south of the Equator. The climate is pleasantly warm all year round, with cool nights, because of the altitude. Most of the country is located on a plateau, around 1,500 m above sea level. Precipitation generally ranges from 1,000 to 1,400 mm per year depending on the area. Rwanda has a modified humid climate including rainy forest and Savannah types. The central and eastern part of the country is generally of semi-arid type owing to its position in the rainy shadow of the western highlands. The rainfall exhibits large temporal and spatial variation due to varied topography and the existence of large water bodies near the country. However, two rainy seasons are generally distinguishable, one centered on March-May and the other around October-December. The warmest annual average temperatures are found in the eastern low-lying (20 °C–21 °C) and Bugarama Valley (23 °C–24 °C), and cooler temperatures in higher elevations of the central plateau (17.5 °C–19 °C) and highlands (less than 17 °C). Temperatures vary little throughout the year (MeteoRwanda, 2023).

Sampling and data collection methods

The eleven districts where the survey was carried out were purposely selected based on major ecological regions in Rwanda and the reported presence of stinging nettles in the wild and/or in domestication near homesteads. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through face-to-face interviews, personal observations, and group discussions held with respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire developed in English and translated into Kinyarwanda (the local language to ease communication), was pretested in a few sites in Rulindo district.

Some of the information collected includes the respondents’ demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, and level of education; and knowledge of farmers on uses and modes of use of stinging nettles in enhancing the livelihoods of the local community. The respondents were farmers and traditional healers who knew the stinging nettle uses or had domesticated it in their farms. During the survey, respondents were first asked for their consent to the interview and were given explanations about the objectives and benefits of the study. Only those who agreed to the interview were interviewed during the survey. The respondents were selected using the snowball sampling method for the interview. A total of 124 respondents were interviewed throughout the surveyed districts. During the survey, after each interview, the stinging nettle fields nearby were visited and the botanical identification was carried out by an experienced botanist who was part of the survey team.

Analysis of collected data

Collected data were processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) ver. 21 through descriptive, thematic, and quantitative analysis. The descriptive analysis allowed us to obtain a general overview of the situation concerning indigenous knowledge of the uses of stinging nettle. The thematic analysis provided the framework for classifying qualitative information. The quantitative analysis enabled the comparison of frequencies of responses on various issues discussed during interviews. The results were summarized and presented through tabulations and graphical illustrations.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents

The largest proportion of respondents were females (56%) (Table 1). In terms of age classes, the highest proportion of respondents (28%) was between 30 and 40 years while the lowest was the class above 60 years (15%) (Table 1). The majority of respondents were married (70%) (Table 1). In terms of literacy, 87% were able to read and write and the largest proportion (45%) had completed primary school education (Table 1).

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.

Variables		Surveyed districts
		Kayonza	Muhanga	Musanze	Nyabihu	Nyagatare	Nyanza	Rubavu	Ruhango	Rulindo	Rutsiro	Rwamagana	Total (%)
Gender (%)	Female (%)	10.5	9.7	0.8	3.2	5.7	7.3	3.2	6.5	0.8	0.8	7.3	55.7
	Male (%)	2.4	2.4	4.0	3.2	7.3	6.5	4.0	7.3	0.8	1.6	4.8	44.4
Marital status	Single (%)	2.8	2.1	1.4	1.4	0.0	1.4	0.7	2.1	0.7	1.4	2.8	17.0
	Married (%)	8.6	6.4	2.8	4.2	11.4	10.7	5.7	10.0	0.7	0.7	8.6	69.9
	Widows/ Widowers (%)	3.9	4.3	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.7	0.0	2.8	0.0	0.0	0.7	13.1
Age class	<30 years (%)	4.0	0.8	2.4	1.6	1.6	1.6	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	3.2	18.6
	30–40 years (%)	4.0	4.0	1.6	2.4	4.0	2.4	3.2	3.2	0.8	0.0	2.4	28.2
	41–50 years (%)	0.0	0.8	0.8	1.6	1.6	3.2	3.2	3.2	0.0	0.8	4.0	19.4
	51–60 years (%)	1.6	2.4	0.0	0.8	4.0	2.4	0.0	5.7	0.0	0.0	2.4	19.4
	>60 years (%)	3.2	4.0	0.0	0.0	1.6	4.0	0.0	0.8	0.0	0.8	0.0	14.5
Literacy*	Yes (%)	8.9	9.7	4.8	6.5	12.1	12.9	7.3	10.5	1.6	2.4	10.5	87.1
	No (%)	4.0	2.4	0.0	0.0	0.8	0.8	0.0	3.2	0.0	0.0	1.6	12.9
Education	No formal education (%)	5.9	5.2	0.0	0.0	1.5	2.2	0.0	4.4	0.0	0.0	3.7	22.8
	Primary School (%)	5.2	5.9	2.2	3.7	5.9	7.4	3.7	6.6	0.0	0.7	3.7	44.8
	Secondary School (%)	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	4.4	2.9	0.7	2.2	1.5	1.5	4.4	23.5
	University (%)	0.0	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.0	2.3	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.7	6.7
	Others (%)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.0	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.2

*Literacy in the context of Rwanda refers to knowing how to read and write.

Indigenous knowledge on the uses of the stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.)

Three locally known stinging nettle plants were mentioned during the survey including ‘Igisura’ (Urtica massaica Mildbr.), ‘Ikibabanzovu’ (Girardinia bullosa (Hochst. ex Steud.) Wedd.) and ‘Ifurwe’ (Laportea alatipes Hook.f.). However, the most prevalent nettle plant species was Urtica massaica Mildbr. (igisura) reported by 96% of respondents. Therefore, most of the information obtained on the uses and benefits of the common stinging nettle relates to Urtica massaica Mildbr. which is locally known as ‘igisura’.

Many respondents (79%) testified that they know people, particularly traditional healers, who have domesticated the stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) around their homesteads and some of them were visited during the survey. Several uses of the stinging nettle were reported by respondents and could warrant its wide-scale domestication. Based on this study, the major uses of the stinging nettle plant (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) in Rwanda can be grouped into five categories: (1) Human medicine such as treatment of stomach ulcers, blood purification, hypertension, injury hemorrhage, and stimulating and increasing breast milk; (2) Veterinary medicine such as treatment of animal worms, animal cough, hemorrhage, mastitis, fostering calf, goats and sheep, increasing milk production, and feed additives; (3) Human nutrition such as vegetable, tea, food supplements, and food additives; (4) Animal feeding such as forage or feeds, watering and ingredient of feeds; and (5) Others such as live fence, punish children to help them abandon bad habits like night bedwetting and fibers for crafts like weaving baskets and local mats (Table 2).

Table 2. Major categories of stinging nettle uses as reported by respondents.

No	Use category	Uses	Part used	Main modes of use
1	Human medicine	Treatment of diseases such as stomach ulcers, blood purification, hypertension, injury (hemorrhage), neurological diseases (nerves, backache), kidneys, pain reliever, anemia, urinary tract, headache, skin diseases, STDs, stimulating and increasing breast milk, and food additives.	Leaves and roots	Cooked leaves, nettle juice (decoction), leaf powder (flour), and leaves mixed with cassava leaves and banana.
2	Veterinary medicine	Treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in dogs, animal worms, animal cough, hemorrhage, and mastitis, fostering calf, goats and sheep, forage, and stimulating milk production.	Leaves	Fresh leaves rubbed on the udder to letting milk down, rubbing of fresh leaves on the vulva, watering boiled fresh leaves with water.
3	Human nutrition	Food (vegetable, tea, juice), food supplements, making local beer, food additives	Leaves	Powder, or picking fresh leaves, chopping, and cooking as vegetables (cooked alone or mixed with beans), or grinding and mixing with water and cook, tea (infusion), juice (decoction)
4	Animal feeding	Forage, feeds, or ingredient of feeds (feed additive)	Leaves	Green leaves, powder, boiled leaves, juice (to goat, sheep, cow), watering (juice mixed in water)
5	Others	Live fence, punishing children; crafts (such as weaving baskets and local mats)	Foliage/ leaves/ stem	Planting around the area to be protected; slashing (whipping) a twig with leaves on the buttock or other body parts; stem fibers

Usages and modes of use of stinging nettle products

All respondents (100%) confirmed that stinging nettle products are employed in human medicine, and the largest proportion of respondents reported that the stinging nettle is used in the form of cooked leaves (47%) (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Categories and modes of uses of stinging nettle products (percent of respondents).

Reported diseases and disorders treated using stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) products

Several diseases and disorders were mentioned by respondents to be treated using stinging nettle products (Figure 3). Among these, stomach ulcers (37%) and hypertension (15%) were the most predominant diseases treated by stinging nettle products (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Reported diseases and disorders treated by stinging nettle products.

Perception of local people on the stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.)

The majority of respondents acknowledged the relevance of the domestication of stinging nettle and their willingness to grow it if there is a market for its products (Table 3).

Table 3. Perceptions of local people on the stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.).

Questions	Answer	Percent of respondents	Reasons
Is domestication of the stinging nettle plant relevant?	Yes	97.5	Nutrition (food), treatment of stomach ulcers, intestinal worms, neurological diseases (nerves, backache), metabolic diseases (diabetes and hypertension), making local beer, feeding animals, income generation through selling leave flour, fencing gardens, and home, treatment of animal disease like sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in dogs; etc.
	No	2.5	People are not aware of its importance, grown naturally, difficult to find seeds
Are stinging nettle products available?	Yes	55.3	Gardens of traditional healers, and a few farmers for income generation, food, and medicine. But not sufficiently available on the market.
	No	44.7	Not aware of its importance, people don’t like its stingy nature, may not grow in the region.
Are you willing to grow the stinging nettle?	Yes	99.2	If there is a market for income generation, food and medicine.
	No	0.8	Because of stinging hairs on the leaves

Discussion

Indigenous knowledge of the usages of the stinging nettle plant (Urtica massaica Mildbr.)

The study results showed that the stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) products are widely used as a source of food for humans and livestock, medicine for both humans and livestock, and for other purposes such as live fencing and as a source of raw material in the local basket and mat weaving. The usage of the stinging nettle plant as a source of food has been previously reported in Africa and elsewhere in the world by several scholars (e.g. Ding et al., 2021; Hassen, 2021; Nsengimana et al., 2020; Shonte, 2021; Shonte & De Kock, 2017; Tumwet et al., 2014). However, in this study, the largest proportion of respondents (51%) reported the use of stinging nettle products as an ingredient for herbal medicine. The findings are in agreement with different ethnobotanical studies conducted on the common stinging nettle in Rwanda and elsewhere in the world (e.g. Gahamanyi et al., 2021; Grauso et al., 2020; Mukazayire et al., 2011; Ramathal & Ngassapa, 2001; Shonte, 2021; Upton, 2013).

Parts of the stinging nettle plant used

In this study, the leaves were mentioned as the most used part of the plant for various purposes. However other parts of the plant such as stem, foliage, and roots are also reported to be used in a few cases. In other research studies, it was reported that all parts of the plant (leaves, stems, and roots) can be used to treat diseases (Said et al., 2015; Upton, 2013). Furthermore, the use of fibers from the nettle stems for basket and mat weaving was mentioned among the other uses of stinging nettle. This is because the stem of the stinging nettle produces high-quality fibers. This property of stinging nettle stems was also observed by Vogl and Hartl (2003) and Debnath (2015).

Modes of use of stinging nettle products

The common stinging nettle can be used as leaf powder, cooked leaves, boiled leaves juice, infusion tea, juice from decoction, and fibers. These modes of use of stinging nettle products were also reported by Said et al. (2015), and Upton (2013). These different modes of use of nettle products confirm the multipurpose nature of the stinging nettle plant therefore it should be domesticated, and its production should be upscaled on a larger area to make nettle products widely available on the local market. There is also a need to improve the processing and packaging of nettle products to make them available for a longer time after harvesting.

Reported functions and diseases treated by the stinging nettle

Many diseases and disorders were reported to be treated using common stinging nettle products. The most reported include stomach ulcers, hypertension, intestinal worms, nerve disorders, diabetes, and rheumatism. The treatment of these diseases and disorders using nettle products was also observed by many other scholars such as Ramathal & Ngassapa (2001), Said et al. (2015), Upton (2013), Bhusal et al. (2022), Gülçin et al. (2004), Grauso et al. (2020), Jan et al. (2017), and Legssyer et al. (2002). Other diseases reported by some of the respondents include treatment of kidneys, pain relief, and anemia, infection of the urinary tract, and hemorrhage from injury, headache relief, skin diseases, and sexually transmitted diseases. Some of these diseases were also reported by other scholars like Sezik et al. (2001) and Ramathal & Ngassapa (2001). However, the treatment of liver and diarrhea using common nettle which was previously studied and reported in Rwanda by Gahamanyi et al. (2021) and Mukazayire et al. (2011) was not reported in this study. This is probably due to different sampling sites and may be rare cases of use.

While some studies have reported teratogenic activity of Urtica massaica Mildbr. leaves in mice, no teratogenic activity was reported by respondents. Yvonne et al. (2018) observed that Urtica massaica Mildbr. leaves exhibited teratogenic activity in Swiss albino mice, causing 40% fetal partial resorption, and hence recommended that Urtica massaica Mildbr. leaves should be used with care during pregnancy. Nevertheless, since the study was conducted on mice and not humans, further studies are required to confirm the recommendation for humans.

The stinging nettle is also used to stimulate and increase milk production in both breastfeeding humans and lactating animals. This can be explained by its high nutritional content particularly in minerals and proteins (Kregiel et al., 2018, and Adhikari et al., 2016). The common stinging nettle floor was also reported to be a good supplement to increase milk in lactating cows, and meat and egg quality in poultry (Grigorova et al., 2022; Humphries & Reynolds, 2014).

Conclusions and recommendations

The stinging nettle plant is famous and well-known in the country for various virtues including food and medicinal properties. The stinging nettle is available in different regions of Rwanda in both domesticated and wild forms. Almost all interviewed people were willing to domesticate the stinging nettle plant if there is a market for its products. Among the three nettle species (Urtica massaica Mildbr., Girardinia bullosa (Hochst. ex Steud.) Wedd.), and Laportea alatipes Hook.f.) reported during the survey, Urtica massaica Mildbr. is the most predominant species of stinging nettle found in Rwanda and the information reported and discussed in this article relates mostly to the indigenous knowledge of the common stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) locally known as ‘Igisura’.

The stinging nettle products are used for several purposes. Based on this study, the main usages of the stinging nettle plants can be grouped into five categories including human medicine, veterinary medicine, human nutrition, animal feeding, and others (such as live fencing and crafts). Meanwhile, stinging nettle products are currently scarce on the market because it is not widely domesticated or cultivated in a large area. Therefore, there is a need to sensitize the local community on nettle domestication to integrate widely the stinging nettle in Rwandan agriculture to ensure the availability of nettle products on the market in sufficient quantities. Future research is needed to investigate different agronomic practices that could enhance the domestication and large-scale cultivation of the common stinging nettle in Rwanda. There is also a need to research on proper processing and packaging of stinging nettle products.

Authors’ contributions

This work was performed in collaboration with all authors. The authors designed the study, collected the data, performed the statistical analysis, and contributed to manuscript drafting. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgment

The authors graciously express their acknowledgment to the respondents who agreed to spend their time answering survey questions during face-to-face interviews.

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are also especially grateful to the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) for funding this research.

Notes on contributors

J. Nduwamungu

Jean Nduwamungu is a Professor of Forestry in the Department of Forestry and Nature Conservation at the University of Rwanda. He is the principal investigator of the project entitled ‘Domestication and scaling up production of stinging nettle (igisura) as an ingredient in poultry feed manufacturing in Rwanda’. The project intends to initiate domestication and production of the common stinging nettle (locally known as ‘igisura’) as a viable ingredient in poultry feed manufacturing in Rwanda. The main goal is to replace the expensive soya bean with locally cultivated stinging nettle in poultry feeds. The project will conduct domestication trials both on and off-campus, collaborating with chosen poultry farmers. Furthermore, the poultry feed industry and poultry farmers will be involved in assessing the effectiveness of stinging nettle powder as an ingredient in poultry feeds before widespread production and adoption throughout the country.