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Effects of a purified fraction from Echeveria gibbiflora aqueous crude extract on guinea‐pig spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Delgado Néstor M.,
Ramírez Javier Taboada,
Hernández Alfredo Ortega,
MerchantLarios Horacio,
SánchezVázqueź María Luisa,
Ramírez Guillermo,
Reyes Rosalina
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199902)13:1<46::aid-ptr373>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - guinea pig , pharmacognosy , traditional medicine , fraction (chemistry) , new guinea , chemistry , chromatography , biology , aqueous extract , biochemistry , biological activity , in vitro , medicine , endocrinology , history , ethnology
Guinea‐pig spermatozoa in the presence of a purified fraction from Echeveria gibbiflora aqueous crude extract suffer a hypotonic‐like effect. The phenomena exhibited included a distension of the plasma membrane over the acrosome region, inducing the formation of a huge ‘head‐bubble’. The agglutination effect was so enhanced that instead of inducing sperm clusters, it produced cane‐like ‘stalk’ structures. The immobilizing activity was induced instantaneously after the addition of the purified fraction. At electron microscope level it was possible to observe a heavy amount of electron dense material of the purified fraction embedded or intercalated along the plasma membrane. It was also possible to corroborate the dispersion of the acrosomal content and the disappearance of the external acrosome membrane. The purified fraction induced loosening of the plasma membrane all along the sperm cell, however, the distension of the membrane was only produced in the apical portion of the sperm head and not in the post equatorial region. The results suggest that the plant may yield a compound suitable for use as a vaginal barrier or male contraceptive agent. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.