Ricinus communis-linn (castor plant), male contraceptives and reproductive health of women

The medicinal use of castor plant is extensive. Castor oil is most commonly used as a laxative, and the leaves and seeds have been used to augment labour, promote lactation and to treat syphilis and leprosy. Its use for contraception is an ancient practice among the Rukuba women of Plateau State in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African journal of reproductive health 2021-08, Vol.25 (4), p.135-141
Main Authors: McNeil, RT, Adebesin, A, Ekwere, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Birth control
Castor oil
contraception masculine
Contraceptives
Contraceptives industry
femmes
Health aspects
Lectins
Male contraception
Medicine, Botanic
Medicine, Herbal
Oral contraceptives
Physiological aspects
Physiology
Reproductive health
Ricinus Communis-Linn
Rodents
sante reproductive
Seeds
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Syphilis
Women
Womens health
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Summary:The medicinal use of castor plant is extensive. Castor oil is most commonly used as a laxative, and the leaves and seeds have been used to augment labour, promote lactation and to treat syphilis and leprosy. Its use for contraception is an ancient practice among the Rukuba women of Plateau State in Nigeria, who would chew 2-3 seeds for contraceptive coverage of one year. The acute and chronic spermatogenic effect of the minor seed variety of ricinus communis-linn is hereby reported. Thirty male rats weighing 200-250g were grouped (n = 5) and treated with the n-hexane extract of the seeds, each made up to 1ml with physiological saline, and given as a single dose, intraperitoneally. Control groups had 1 ml physiological saline. Semen was collected 72 h and 6 weeks after treatment and analyzed within one hour of collection. The seed extract suppressed spermatogenesis and sperm motility up to six weeks after treatment. But semen parameters reverted to normal values in the 7 weeks of treatment, showing primary spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules. Our results showed ricinus communis-linn to be a potent but reversible anti-spermatogenic agent with significant anti-motility properties. Moreover, being of plant origin, it is readily available and affordable. We hereby present ricinus communis-linn as a possible male contraceptive agent that can relieve women of their reproductive burden globally. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[4]: 135-141). L'utilisation médicinale de la plante de ricin est étendue. L'huile de ricin est le plus souvent utilisée comme laxatif, et les feuilles et les graines ont été utilisées pour augmenter le travail, favoriser la lactation et traiter la syphilis et la lèpre. Son utilisation pour la contraception est une pratique ancienne chez les femmes Rukuba de l'État du Plateau au Nigeria, qui mâchaient 2-3 graines pour une couverture contraceptive d'un an. L'effet spermatogène aigu et chronique de la variété mineure de graines de ricinus communis-linn est rapporté ici. Trente rats mâles pesant 200 à 250 g ont été regroupés (n = 5) et traités avec l'extrait de n-hexane des graines, chacun complété à 1 ml de sérum physiologique et administré en une seule dose, par voie intrapéritonéale. Les groupes témoins avaient 1 ml de sérum physiologique. Le sperme a été collecté 72 h et 6 semaines après le traitement et analysé dans l'heure suivant le prélèvement. L'extrait de graines a supprimé la spermatogenèse et la motilité des sperma
ISSN:1118-4841
1118-4841
DOI:10.29063/ajrh2021/v25i4.14