Evaluation of Argyreia nervosa Seeds as Contact Spermicidal Agent

In the present study, contraceptive efficacy of different solvent based extracts of seeds of the plant Argyreia nervosa was evaluated by a series of in-vitro experiments. After contact with semen sample, there was a progressive decrease in the number of viable sperm cells. Effect of sperm mobility sperm viability, hypoosmotic swelling test were evaluated in the present study. Eosin-Nigrosin staining of the extract treated semen suspension also revealed a significant increase in the number of immotile/dead sperm cell. FTIR-ATR analysis of the extracts was carried out. It was interesting to observe that the FTIR-ATR spectra of chloroform and ethanol extracts indicated at the possible presence of lysergic acid amide. The sperm immobilization effect was however found to be reversible in nature. However, the reversal took place in the presence of increasing concentrations of 5-HT2A agonist 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine indicating the possible involvement of 5-HT2A antagonism as hypothesized mechanism of action of the observed sperm immobilization effect. The present results indicate a potent sperm immobilizing potential of seeds of the plant Argyreia nervosa.