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RICOM: a potential male contraceptive agent?
Author(s) -
McNeil Rosie Thecla,
Ekwere Ekwere Okon,
Adebesin Abduljalil A,
Okwuasaba Francis Kanayo,
Ochigbo Adam John
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.727.8
Subject(s) - cyproterone acetate , endocrine system , in vivo , andrology , fertility , semen , male contraceptive , levonorgestrel , chemistry , endocrinology , physiology , medicine , population , biology , hormone , family planning , research methodology , androgen , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental health
The minor seed variety of RICOM – 1013‐J, a local contraceptive agent among the Rukuba women of Central Nigeria was studied. The N‐hexane extract of RICOM has been shown to possess anti‐fertility properties in adult cyclic Sprague‐Dawley rats. The ether‐methanolic extract of the seeds has been proven to possess an oestrogen‐like effect on the female genital tract of adult Wistar rats. It induced vaginal opening in prenatal rat. However, the effect of RICOM on male fertility has not been documented. Thus the aim of this study is to assess the effect of RICOM on testicular structure and function; semen parameters in vivo and in vitro and, to compare its effect to that of a known drug (diane35, which contains 0.035g cyproterone acetate and 2mg of ethinyl oestradiol/tab). The semen parameters in vivo showed marked suppression of testicular function in both the groups treated with RICOM and diane35, when compared to that of the control. We concluded that Ricinus communis‐linn suppresses testicular function and is a potential male contraceptive agent. This possibility should however be investigated further.