Gideon O Alade1, Jones O Moody2, Olanrewaju R Awotona3, Saburi A Adesanya4, Daowan Lai5, Peter Proksch6. 1. 1Department of Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria. 2. 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 3. 3Department of Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria. 4. 4Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. 5. 5Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China. 6. 6Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany.
Abstract
AIM: To isolate the spermicidal constituents of Sacoglottis gabonensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract with partitioned fractions of Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark were subjected to sperm immobilization assay. The most active EtOAc fraction was further purifi ed by column and Semi-Preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography to give compounds which were characterized by spectroscopic methods (UV, LC/MS, and NMR). The compound(s) was also tested for sperm immobilization activity. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract showed 100% signifi cant (p < 0.05) sperm immobilization activity at a concentration of 30 mg/mL at 20 s compared to both negative and positive controls. The most active ethyl acetate fraction yielded methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol and bergenin. Bergenin had 100% sperm immobilization activity at 20 mg/mL in 60 s which was signifi cant (p < 0.05) also when compared to the positive and negative control while methyl 3,5-dihydroxy- 4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol were not active. CONCLUSION: The active spermicidal constituent in Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract is bergenin. However, methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate and eriodictyol showed no activity. This plant is known for its aphrodisiac action; hence, caution may have to be exercised in its use because of its spermicidal eff ect.
AIM: To isolate the spermicidal constituents of Sacoglottis gabonensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract with partitioned fractions of Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark were subjected to sperm immobilization assay. The most active EtOAc fraction was further purifi ed by column and Semi-Preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography to give compounds which were characterized by spectroscopic methods (UV, LC/MS, and NMR). The compound(s) was also tested for sperm immobilization activity. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract showed 100% signifi cant (p < 0.05) sperm immobilization activity at a concentration of 30 mg/mL at 20 s compared to both negative and positive controls. The most active ethyl acetate fraction yielded methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol and bergenin. Bergenin had 100% sperm immobilization activity at 20 mg/mL in 60 s which was signifi cant (p < 0.05) also when compared to the positive and negative control while methyl 3,5-dihydroxy- 4-methoxybenzoate, eriodictyol were not active. CONCLUSION: The active spermicidal constituent in Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract is bergenin. However, methyl 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoate and eriodictyol showed no activity. This plant is known for its aphrodisiac action; hence, caution may have to be exercised in its use because of its spermicidal eff ect.