Spermicidal activity of Melia azedarach: In vitro and in vivo studies

Abstract

In vitro spermicidal activities of various concentrations of petroleum ether fraction of Melia azedarach seeds have been studied in rats and mice spermatozoa at different time intervals ranging from 20 seconds to 240 seconds as compared to control. The motility of spermatozoa was inhibited with various concentrations of petroleum ether fraction. The effect of the fraction on spermatozoan motility is dose dependent and complete immobilization was seen with 10 and 25mg concentrations tested for 240 and 20 seconds respectively. In vivo studies in rats indicated that the petroleum ether fraction, when applied intravaginaly on the estrus phase at a dose of 25mg, for five regular cycles resulted in no abnormalities either in estrous cycle or in the vaginal epithelial cells, but inhibited sperm motility resulted in clumping of spermatozoa leading to immobilization. These observations suggest that petroleum ether fraction of Melia azedarach is having spermicidal activity.