title: Chenopodium album seed extract: a potent sperm-immobilizing agent both in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aqueous decoction of Chenopodium album seeds (CAD) was assessed for its sperm-immobilizing and contraceptive efficacy in laboratory mammals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spermicidal efficacy was evaluated in vitro by a modified Sander-Cramer test. The mode of spermicidal action was assessed by (a) supravital and double fluoroprobe staining of sperm, (b) hypoosmotic swelling tests and (c) transmission electron microscopy. Contraceptive efficacy was evaluated by intrauterine and vaginal application of CAD in rats and rabbits, respectively, followed by their mating and evaluation of pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minimum effective concentration of CAD that induced instantaneous immobilization of rat spermatozoa in vitro was 2 mg/mL. The mechanism of CAD action involved disintegration of sperm plasma membrane and dissolution of acrosomal cap causing sperm death. Fertilization of oocytes and establishment of implantation were prevented in the uterine horn that was administered with CAD, while these events occurred unhindered in the untreated contralateral side. In rabbit, intravaginal application of CAD significantly blocked the establishment of pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAD possesses appreciable spermicidal potential, which may be explored as an effector constituent of vaginal contraceptive.
authors.affiliation: Steroid and Terpenoid Chemistry Department, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Shrabanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Shampa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Debayan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.forename: Heramba Nandan
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Smritinath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Syed N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kabir
authors.forename: Sukdeb
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Nirup B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mondal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027463:Chenopodium album / Q000737:chemistry*; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents