Chenopodium album seed extract: a potent sperm-immobilizing agent both in vitro and in vivo.
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.
Kumar
Shrabanti
S
Steroid and Terpenoid Chemistry Department, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India.
Biswas
Shampa
S
Mandal
Debayan
D
Roy
Heramba Nandan
HN
Chakraborty
Smritinath
S
Kabir
Syed N
SN
Banerjee
Sukdeb
S
Mondal
Nirup B
NB
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
D010936:Plant Extracts; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents