Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acacia nilotica pods have been used since ancient times as a male contraceptive even though no scientific evidence exists about its efficacy. METHODS: Crude aqueous and ethanol extracts of Acacia nilotica pods powder were administered to human spermatozoa in vitro at different concentrations and incubation periods. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica significantly decreased sperm progressive motility in a dose and time dependent manner, but no differences were observed in cell viability. The aqueous extract also caused an increase in spontaneous acrosome reaction of the treated cells. No significant differences in all the sperm functions assessed were observed when the sperm were treated with the ethanol extract. CONCLUSION: These data have demonstrated that the aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica has contraceptive properties by interrupting sperm transportation as evidenced by the reduction in progressive motility. Furthermore, the contraceptive properties have been demonstrated in vitro by inducing premature spontaneous acrosome reaction which could affect sperm-egg interaction. In vivo studies would confirm the contraceptive properties of Acacia nilotica.
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