title: Natural male contraceptive: phytochemical investigation and anti-spermatogenic activity of Pistia stratiotes Linn.
abstract: This work is an attempt to explore the anti-spermatogenic activity of Pistia stratiotes and to investigate it as a male contraceptive. The prepared extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, saponin and phenolic compounds. To assess the anti-spermatogenic activity, mice were orally administered with the various extracts of P. stratiotes (dose: 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight/day, for 45 days) and the most active, ethanolic extract was subjected to the isolation of phytoconstituent responsible for the activity. Diethyl ether fraction of ethanolic extract was taken to isolate a saponin, sitosterol-3-O-[2,4-di-O-acetyl-6-O-stearyl-β-D-glucopyranoside]. Anti-spermatogenic activity of the isolated saponin was evaluated at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight/day, for 45 days. The treatment caused significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the weight of reproductive organs (testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle). The sperm count, sperm viability and serum testosterone levels were significantly lowered compared with that of the control group.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Pharmacy, Babu Banarasi Das Northern India Institute of Technology , Lucknow , 226028 UP , India.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Bidhyut Kumar
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Avinash C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Ajeet Pal
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shailendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Saraf
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D029064:Araceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D012503:Saponins; D012855:Sitosterols; C000593052:sitosterol-3-O-(2,4-di-O-acetyl-6-O-stearyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside); D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Pistia stratiotes; anti-spermatogenic activity; male contraceptive; natural; saponin; testosterone