文摘
Our interest in development of hyaluronidase inhibitors as male antifertility agents led to identification of Terminalia chebula (T. chebula) plant with hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitory activity of human spermatozoa (93 % inhibition) and rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa (86 % inhibition) in vitro at 30 mg/ml. We further demonstrated inhibition of hyaluronidase activity of testis and epididymal spermatozoa in vivo coincident with antispermatogenic activity and contraceptive efficacy of TC extract administered at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day orally for 60 days in male albino rats. The significant decrease in motility, count and increase in morphological abnormalities of epididymal spermatozoa and severe reduction in fertility (−100 % ) of male rats treated with T. chebula fruit extract at 100 mg/kg dose could be attributed to either direct effect on testis or direct or indirect interference with sperm maturation in epididymis, and/or inhibition of testicular and epididymal sperm hyaluronidase enzyme in vivo probably caused by flavonoids like tannins present in T. chebula.