Complementary and alternative medicines: the herbal male contraceptives

Effects of solvent extraction on the phytoconstituents and in vitro antioxidant activity properties of leaf extracts of the two selected medicinal plants from Malawi

This study evaluated and compared the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of the solvent extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Vernonia amygdalina Del leaves. Methanolic and aqueous extracts showed high (P ≤ 0.05) extract yields (in %), compared to chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts from both V. amygdalina and A. indica leaves. The study exhibited high phytochemical content in methanol and aqueous extracts compared to chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts, confirming the potential for medicinal use. V. amygdalina methanol and aqueous extracts had higher (P ≤ 0.05) total phenolic content (TPC), in mg GAE/gDW, (158.810±0.846 and 217.883±0.265, respectively) than chloroform (37.574±0.118) and ethyl acetate (104.758±0.236) but higher ethyl acetate content in A. indica extracts. Low polar solvents extracted high (P ≤ 0.05) total flavonoids, in mgQE/gDW, (367.051±0.858 and 149.808±0.009) compared to high polar solvents (14.863±0.071 and 54.226±0.014 ) in V. amygdalina while as in A. indica leaf extracts, low polar solvents showed high TFC ( 658.469±3.451 and 275.288±10.490) compared to high polar solvents (26.312±0.063 and 48.858±0.063) respectively. In vitro total antioxidant capacity, in mg/g, was higher in polar solvents than in low-polar solvents, ranging from 34.300±1.784 to 121.015±6.839 for A. indica ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts. A strong correlation between TPC and tannic acid content was observed, except in A. indica methanolic extracts of A. indica. Ferric reducing power was high, except for V. amygdalina chloroform and methanol leaf extracts, which were lower (P≤ 0.05) than that of the standard ascorbic acid. The study revealed that high polar solvents, such as methanol and water, are more efficient in the extraction of antioxidants from A. indica but lower in V. amygdalina extracts. High phytochemical content and antioxidative capacity could be significant in treating various diseases in humans.

Determination of possible contraceptive potential of methanolic leaf extract of Mentha longifolia L. in adult male rats: a biochemical and histological study

Mentha longifolia L (ML) is locally used as an herbal contraceptive. We aim to assess the toxicity profile and validate the antifertility effects of its leaves in male rats. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10 animals/group) were divided into four groups. The Control group received .9% saline, while groups II, III, and IV received 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg/day ML doses for 28 days. ML induced a dose-dependent decrease in percent fertility as well as the number of pups born in ML preexposed pairs, with maximum change observed in the ML3 group (60%, 3.75 ± 1.25) as compared to control (100%, 8.75 ± .48) group. A significant (P < .01) decrease in the rate of daily sperm production was observed in the ML3 group (.86 ± .16) in contrast to the control (2.93 ± .05). The levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase declined significantly in treatment groups (ML1-P < .001, ML2-P < .05, and ML3-P < .01). A significant increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (P < .001) was found in all treatment groups. The concentrations of LH (P < .001), FSH (P < .001), and testosterone (P < .001) were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner among ML-treated groups. Decreases in spermatogonial populations, mature spermatids, seminiferous tubule diameter, lumen diameter, and epithelial height were noticed at higher doses. The reversibility study depicted a reduction in both pregnancy outcomes and litter size. Besides contraceptive effects, M. longifolia L usage is associated with oxidative stress; therefore, it is important to consume this herb appropriately and its excessive usage should be prohibited.

Evaluation of the toxicity of Pradosia huberi extract during the preimplantation in Wistar rats

The treatment during the embryonic preimplantation phase of Wistar rats with the Pradosia huberi extract did not interfere with the water and feed consumption, as well as upon the body-weight gain. However, it has expressed a decrease of the uterine implant number, followed by the preimplantation losses at all applied doses (1.22, 6.1, and 30.5 mg/kg), and the number of embryonic resorptions in the two highest doses (6.1 and 30.5 mg/kg). After the organ weighing (hypophysis, ovaries, and uterus), only the relative weight of the hypophysis was raised at the different doses (1.22, 6.1, and 30.5 mg/kg). It was concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract of Pradosia huberi compromises the reproductive ability during the embryonic preimplantation phase, suggesting a possible toxic effect upon the reproductive system of Wistar rats.