Sperm antimotility properties of a seed extract of Abrus precatorius.
This study examined the inhibitory effects of a methanol extract of Abrus precatorius seeds on the motility of washed human spermatozoa. The extract caused a concentration-related impairment of percentage sperm motility; with the EC50 concentration being 2.29 mg/ml. This effect on motility was essentially irreversible. With the highest concentration tested (20.0 mg/ml), the onset of the antimotility action was almost immediate. In addition, this concentration impaired the functional integrity of the plasma membrane (hypoosmotic swelling test) and viability (nigrosin-eosin stain) of spermatozoa. In contrast, with a lower concentration (5.0 mg/ml), such effects were not evident. It is concluded that at the lower concentrations the antimotility action may result from a rise in intracellular calcium (not via influx) and/or a decline in cAMP content and/or enhanced generation of a reactive oxygen species.
Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
W D
WD
Ratnasooriya
A S
AS
Amarasekera
N S
NS
Perera
G A
GA
Premakumara
D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D000432:Methanol; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013188:Sri Lanka
D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D002110:Caffeine; D002118:Calcium; D000432:Methanol