title: Immobilising effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human spermatozoa: coumarin compounds are involved.
abstract: This study was designed to find out Ruta graveolens L. functional components, which have immobilisation effect on human spermatozoa for contraceptive use. A five-step fractionation method was used to derive different components from rue aqueous extract by using hexane, chloroform, ethanol, acetone and ultrapure water. Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometery (GC-MS) of all fractions and the aqueous extract were performed to determine the chemical components. The immobilisation assay and membrane integrity test were also performed with four different coumarins, which were found in GC-MS in a concentration of 10 μm. Hexane, chloroform, acetone and ethanol fractions could significantly decrease motility of sperms within the first and the second hours. Hexane fraction had also significant immediate effect. The aqueous fraction had no effect on sperm motility. Meanwhile, GC-MS revealed that aqueous extract and effective fractions had similar coumarin compounds. We performed the immobilisation assay on four different coumarins, which were found in GC-MS in a concentration of 10 μm. Reduction of sperm motility was only significant for xanthotoxin. In the sperm viability and membrane integrity tests, hexane and ethanolic fractions could impair sperm vitality significantly, in contrast to coumarins. These results indicated that a part of immobilising effect of rue could be due to its coumarins. The possible mechanism could be blocking of spermatozoa potassium channels.
authors: IVF Center, Arash Women Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Naghibi Harat
authors: Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Lakpour
authors: Physiology Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: Sadeghipoor
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kamalinejad
authors: Biostatics Department, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Eshraghian
authors: Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Naghibi
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Akhondi
authors: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Binaafar
authors: Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Sadeghi
mesh_terms: D003374:Coumarins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032105:Ruta; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ruta graveolens L; contraception; coumarins; reproductive pharmacology; spermatozoa