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Effect of C issampelos capensis rhizome extract on human spermatozoa in vitro
Author(s) -
Shalaweh S. M.,
Erasmus N.,
Weitz F.,
Henkel R. R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12264
Subject(s) - capacitation , andrology , sperm , dna fragmentation , reactive oxygen species , acrosome reaction , biology , sperm motility , semen , motility , human fertilization , hypotaurine , superoxide , fragmentation (computing) , traditional medicine , botany , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , biochemistry , ecology , medicine , amino acid , taurine , programmed cell death , enzyme
Summary Cissampelos capensis is commonly known by the A frikaans name ‘dawidjies’ or ‘dawidjieswortel’. C . capensis is the most important and best‐known medicinal plant of the family M enispermaceae used by the K hoisan and other rural people in the western regions of S outh A frica. Among numerous other ailments, it is traditionally taken to treat male fertility problems. Yet, no studies have investigated the effects of this plant or its extracts on human spermatozoa. The aim of study was to investigate the effects of C . capensis extracts on sperm function. A total of 77 semen samples were collected. Spermatozoa were washed with HTF ‐ BSA medium and incubated with different concentrations of C . capensis (0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, 50, 200 μg ml −1 ) for 1 h at 37 °C. Sperm motility, vitality, acrosome reaction, reactive oxygen species ( ROS ), capacitation, Annexin V binding, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m ) were determined. While viability, Annexin V positivity and Δψ m were not affected, the percentages of ROS ‐positive, TUNEL ‐positive, capacitated and hyperactivated spermatozoa increased significantly and dose‐dependently. It is concluded that the alkaloids present in the extract of C . capansis rhizomes triggered sperm intrinsic superoxide production leading to sperm capacitation and DNA fragmentation.