OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour ethyl acetate extract (RVLEAE) on male mouse procreation and analyse their chemical composition.

METHODWith the method of solvent extraction, RVLEAE was extracted and concentrated. In the experiment of mice, 80 male mice were randomly and equally divided into four groups: Normal Saline control, positive control with 0.1% triperygium wilfordii glycoside, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) RVLEAE and 400 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) RVLEAE. Every mouse was fed with drug 0.01 mL x g(-1), once a day, ig, for eleven consecutive weeks. After two and 10 weeks, male and female mouse naturally mated for one week. The pregnancy rate, number of fetus and nonviable fetus, the viability of spermatozoon in the epididymis cauda, pathological change of testis and epididymis were observed in this experiment. In the analysis of chemical composition, RVLEAE were separated with column chromatography, and chemical compositions were identified with thinlayer chromatography, infrared chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance.

RESULTThe pregnancy rate of mice was markedly decreased. The number and viability of spermatozoon were slightly reduced in I and II after two and 10 weeks, but the pathological changes of testis and epididymis were markedly occurred. Main chemical compositions were identified as saccharide, glycosides especially analog of fucose, alcohols, and phenols.

CONCLUSIONRVLEAE can inhibit the procreation of male mice, and inhibitory target tissue may be the epididymis. Active mechanism of RVLEAE may be that glycosides interfere the maturation of spermatozoon in the epididymis cauda.