Effects ofHeliopsis longipesethanolic extract on mouse spermatozoain vitro

Abstract

Context: Heliopsis longipes (A. Gray) Blake (Asteraceae), a plant native to Mexico, is used in traditional medicine as analgesic and microbicide. The main component in the H. longipes ethanolic extract (HLEE) is affinin, as determined by HPLC/UV-visible and NMR measurement. To date, there is no documented evidence on the spermicidal activity of this extract. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess in vitro the effectiveness of HLEE as spermicide. Materials and methods:The spermicidal activity of HLEE was evaluated by the Sander-Cramer assay. Spermatozoa were incubated for 20 s with HLEE in concentrations ranging from 75 to 2000 mg/mL to determine the minimum effective concentration (MEC) value. The 50% effective concentration (EC 50 ) of HLEE was estimated by assaying serial dilutions from the MEC. Additionally, sperms were incubated with 125, 250, or 500 mg/mL of HLEE to evaluate the viability and the integrity of sperm membrane. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay. Results: HLEE caused an inhibition of 100% in spermatozoa motility at a MEC value of 2000 mg/mL; the EC 50 value was 125 mg/mL. Additionally, exposure to HLEE at 125, 250, or 500 mg/mL for 30 min decreased sperm viability to 27%, 8%, and 2% of the control value, respectively, and significantly increased the percentage of sperms with structurally disorganized membrane. HLEE also increased significantly the level of lipid peroxidation in sperms with respect to controls. Discussion and conclusion: The results demonstrate the spermicidal activity of HLEE in vitro and suggest that this action is caused by oxidative damage and alterations in the spermatozoal membrane.

Affinin (Spilanthol), Isolated from Heliopsis longipes, Induces Vasodilation via Activation of Gasotransmitters and Prostacyclin Signaling Pathways

“…Our results indicated that affinin is able to activate the NO/cGMP, CO/cGMP, H 2 S/KATP, and PGI2/cAMP signaling pathways, and considering that the triggering of these four signaling pathways depends on the activation of molecular targets located on the endothelium layer, it is very likely that this alkamide might be acting on molecular targets, whose activation leads to an increase in Ca 2+ levels in the endothelial cells. The chemical structure of N -alkylamides or alkamides [ 63 ], like affinin [ 13 , 64 , 65 ] resembles that of fatty acid amides [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ], and the endogenous cannabinoid N -arachidonylethanolamine or anandamide [ 70 ]. This molecule produces a potent vasodilator effect through several proposed mechanisms that include activation of TRPV1 channels and G-coupled receptors, such as CB 1 , CB 2 , and endothelial non-CB 1 /non-CB 2 [ 71 , 72 , 73 ].…”

Proangiogenic Effect of Affinin and an Ethanolic Extract from Heliopsis longipes Roots: Ex Vivo and In Vivo Evidence

“…15240-062, NY, USA). We used 1 µL of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for each 2 µg of sample for the dilution and treatment preparations for HLEE and affinin [8,83,84]. Experiments were performed using BSCM + DMSO for the negative control; BSCM + 30 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-b) (Peprotech, Cat.…”