Abstract

The aim of the present study is to support the ethno botanical knowledge of contraception with evidence by evaluating the activity of aqueous seed extracts of selected traditional contraceptive plant species. In this study, effect of extracts on human sperm motility was examined under in vitro using human sperm sample. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera L., Crotolaria juncea L., Sapindus trifoliatus L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and Ricinus communis L. seeds was used to treat fresh human semen in 1:1 volumetric ratio. The motility of sperm was noted under a compound microscope at the interval of 15 seconds. Morphological changes were also noted simultaneously. The sperm immobilization effects of the seed extract appeared immediately when the semen samples were treated with aqueous extracts. The sperms treated with Moringa oleifera L. and Sapindus trifoliatus L. extracts, 100% sperms completely lost their motility within a minute. The findings of these study reported that aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera L. and Sapindus trifoliatus L. showed inhibition of sperm motility, which can be promising as a new male spermicidal contraceptives. © 2018 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.

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