Nandoo Mal Khanna

Spermicidal potential of saponins isolated from Indian medicinal plants

Abstract Saponins isolated from sixteen Indian plants showed spermicidal activity in human semen in both the Spot and IPPF tests. Spermicidal activity was found to be associated with the β-amyrin C-28 carboxylic acid type of sapogenins linked to a particular sequence of sugar moieties.

Dysobinin, a new tetranortriterpene from Dysoxylum binectariferum

Abstract Dysobinin, a new tetranortriterpene of the meliacin group showing general CNS-depressant action and mild anti-inflammatory activity was isolated from the fruits of Dysoxylum binectariferum . Alkaline hydrolysis of dysobinin gave a new diol named dysobindiol. The structural elucidation of dysobinin and dysobindiol is described.

Semen coagulation - a potential approach to contraception.

Abstract Of 1600 Indian plants tested in vitro at 2% concentration, 90 showed coagulating property on rat vasal and epididymal contents and 49 coagulated liquefied human semen. The coagulating activity appeared to be associated with the tannin-rich fraction of these plants. It is suggested that the use of a coagulant in combination with a spermicide will offer a potential and effective method of intravaginal contraception.

Isaptent — A new cervical dilator

A new cervical dilator, Isaptent, was prepared from granulated Plantago ovata (Isapgol) seed husk. It was evaluated in a multicentric clinical trial for dilatation of the cervix in subjects opting for medical termination of pregnancy. The trial covered 804 women in over 21 centres in different parts of the country. The cases were between 15 to 45 years of age, 0 to 10 parity with a gestation period of 8 to 24 weeks. A single tent was used in 750 subjects and satisfactory dilatation was achieved in 94% of the cases. The cervical dilatation bore no relationship to age, parity and gestation period of the subjects. The tent provided self-lubrication, caused no apparent damage to the cervix and the vaginal flora remained unchanged in the randomly selected subjects in whom bacteriologic studies were performed. The outcome of the clinical trial and advantages of Isaptent over the other procedures used for cervical dilatation are discussed.

Saponins from Deutzia corymbosa.

Two new saponins were isolated from Deutzia corymbosa and characterized as: echinocystic acid-3-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1----4)]alpha-L- arabinopyranoside and echinocystic acid-3-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl(1----4)alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl(1----4)]alpha-L-arabinopyranoside. Umbellferone and sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside were also isolated and characterized.