title: Spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of Brazilian Sapindus saponaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sapindus saponaria is used traditionally for curing ulcers, external wounds and inflammations. The spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity of S. saponaria and its effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Water-ethanol (WE) and butanolic (BE) extracts, as well as a purified sample of saponins (SP) from S. saponaria were tested for spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity and for their effect on L. acidophilus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WE, BE and SP immobilized spermatozoa at a minimum effective concentration (MEC) of 2.5 (gram %) for extracts and 1.25 (gram %) for SP. The effective concentrations that caused 50% immobilization of spermatozoa (EC₅₀) were 0.5 (gram %) for WE and SP, and 0.1 (gram %) for BE. The compounds were effective against Trichomonas vaginalis (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration = 0.156 mg/mL for WE and BE, and 0.078 mg/mL for SP against a clinical strain (CS); and 0.312, 0.156 and 0.078 mg/mL for WE, BE and SP, respectively, against an ATCC strain). In all concentrations tested, the growth of L. acidophilus was not reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The in vitro study proved the spermicidal and anti-Trichomonas activity of S. saponaria. Complementary in vivo studies should be made for establish the use as a vaginal spermicide, particularly in Brazil and Latin America.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Division of Clinical Cytology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná 4860, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edilson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Damke
authors.forename: Joyce K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.forename: Francieli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chassot
authors.forename: Diógenes A G
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Izabel C P
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Cristiane S S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.forename: Vânia R S
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: da-Silva
authors.forename: Terezinha I E
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Svidzinski
authors.forename: Márcia E L
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Consolaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032127:Sapindus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents
references.citation: Contraception. 1994 Aug;50(2):185-90
references.pmid: 7956217
references.citation: FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1996 Aug;15(1):23-6
references.pmid: 8871112
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Sep;82(1):41-4
references.pmid: 12169404
references.citation: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008 Sep;62(3):526-34
references.pmid: 18544604
references.citation: Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 Jun;45(6):1810-4
references.pmid: 11353630
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 1998 Aug;178(2):441-5
references.pmid: 9697724
references.citation: Contraception. 2007 Feb;75(2):152-6
references.pmid: 17241846
references.citation: Contraception. 2003 Aug;68(2):135-8
references.pmid: 12954526
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 1992 Jan;165(1):19-25
references.pmid: 1309374
references.citation: Reprod Health Matters. 2000 Nov;8(16):156-9
references.pmid: 11424245
references.citation: An Acad Bras Cienc. 2007 Dec;79(4):577-83
references.pmid: 18066429
references.citation: Parasitol Res. 2012 Jun;110(6):2551-6
references.pmid: 22218924
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 1992 Jun;165(6):1142-4
references.pmid: 1316413
references.citation: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2006 Aug;58(2):266-72
references.pmid: 16790461
references.citation: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008 Aug;32(2):180-5
references.pmid: 18571386
references.citation: Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2005 Dec;10(4):212-8
references.pmid: 16448947
references.citation: J Dairy Sci. 2001 Feb;84(2):319-31
references.pmid: 11233016
references.citation: Posit Living. 2001 Aug-Sep;10(5):20
references.pmid: 11693101
references.citation: Contraception. 2003 May;67(5):403-8
references.pmid: 12742565
references.citation: Am J Reprod Immunol. 2000 Mar;43(3):144-51
references.pmid: 10735590
references.citation: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 May 04;11:35
references.pmid: 21542936
references.citation: Sex Transm Dis. 2001 Jul;28(7):394-400
references.pmid: 11460023
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 2005 Aug;20(8):2301-8
references.pmid: 15932909