Evaluation of contact spermicidal potential of Lantana camara leaf extracts on human spermatozooa

Background: The Present study was designed to evaluate the spermicidal potential of various Lantana camara leaf extracts on healthy human spermatozoa. Methods: Four different extracts viz. Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Methanol and Water were prepared and diluted to various concentrations. These were then treated with suitably diluted human semen samples. Various parameters like sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm count, hypoosmotic swelling, acrosomal status and function were noted. Results: The results showed that methanolic and aqueous extracts possessed maximum spermicidal potential in terms of above mentioned sperm health and function parameters. Therefore, methanolic and aqueous extracts were further studied for In-vitro evaluation of pro-oxidant activity by detection of ROS generation using fluorescent probe detection method. Conclusions: The results revealed that both methanolic and aqueous extracts of Lantana camara possessed pro-oxidant potential which could be attributed for its observed contact spermicidal activity.