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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Fluorimetric Techniques for the Assessment of Sperm Membranes
Published on: November 28, 2018
[Experimental research on tea saponin ameliorating nonoxynol spermicidal action in vitro]
Zhengyi Wang1, Youming Zheng, Kai Guo
1United Postdoctoral Workshop, Traditional Chinese Medical University & Enwei Corporation, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. wzyy10@vip.sina.com
Objective:
To study the effect of tea saponin in ameliorating nonoxynol(N-9) spermicidal action in vitro.
Methods:
According to the improved spermicidal test method in vitro recommended by International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF), we evaluated the minimum spermicidal concentration of N-9, tea saponin and their mixed solution in 20 s and 3 min.
Results:
The minimum spermicidal concentration of N-9 in the mixed solution was (0.13 +/- 0.05) g/L in 20 s and (0.05 +/- 0.004) g/L in 3 min, and that of the tea saponin in the mixed solution was (2.40 +/- 1.07) g/L in 20 s and (1.27 +/- 0.38) g/L in 3 min, compared with the single ingredient N-9 [(0.48 +/- 0.15) g/L in 20 s, (0.34 +/- 0.079 g/L in 3 min], and tea saponin [(5.78 +/- 1.40) g/L in 20 s, (1.71 +/- 0.176) g/L in 3 min], P < 0.01.
Conclusion:
Tea saponin can improve N-9 spermicidal action in vitro, and tea saponin and nonoxynol have proved of synergic effect.
