Herbal contraception — A call for education and research Sharma Manisha1, Chauhan Geetanjali1, Kharkwal Harsha1,*, Pushpangadan P.2, Varma Ajit1 | Ms. Manisha Sharma has completed her M.Phil (2008) from Annamalai University with specialization in Food and Industrial Microbiology and M.Sc. Microbiology (2004) from Brindavan College, Bangalore University. She has five book chapters and eight abstracts of national and international repute to her credit and filed one full patent. She has four years of experience in research, industry and academics. She worked as Microbiologist in Quality Control/Research and development department of Indian Herbs-Saharanpur. She also worked as lecturer in Brindavan College, Bangalore. She is currently pursuing Ph.D from Amity University in the field of applied microbiology. |
| Ms. Geetanjali Chauhan has completed her M.Sc.-Biotechnology (2006) from CCS University-Meerut. She has authored four book chapters and filed one patent. She has two years of teaching and research experience. She is currently pursuing Ph.D. from Amity University in the field of applied microbiology. |
| Dr. Harsha Kharkwal is actively involved in fundamental and advanced research of herbal chemistry R&D for past 8 years. She graduated from Osmania University in the year 1996 and completed her post graduation from Kumaoun University in 1998. She obtained her Ph. D degree under the supervision of Dr. V.P. Kapoor (Deputy Director, National Botanical Research Institute) in 2005 from Ram Manohar Lohiya Avadh University, Faizabad, India. One year of Research work at UICT, Mumbai. In past 8 years, research work based on varied topics including Plant hydrocolloids, medicinal plants, derivatization, bioactive molecules, pharmaceutical analysis of native and modified seed gums, herbal medicines and dyes by using latest techniques. Have won Lucid Research Award for the year 2004. She has joined Amity University in October 2005 as a Lecturer and is actively involved in teaching and natural product research. |
| Prof. Palpu Pushpangadan, presently the Director General of Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech. Products Development (AIHBPD). He served as Director, National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) from Feb 1999 to Feb 2006; Director Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) from Nov 1990 Feb 1999. He also held additional charges as Director of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) from 18.4.94 to 15.12.94 and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) from 31.12.2000 to 10.05.2001. Dr. Pushpangadan is a multidisciplinary scientist having over 37 years experience. He has carried out original research in Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding, Biotechnology, Molecular Taxonomy, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, Ethnobiology, Ethnopharmacology, Bioprospecting and natural product development etc. He served/serving as consultant to WHO, DANIDA, UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP and NAM S&T Centre for developing countries and UN-CBD. Prof. Pushpangadan has received many national and international medals/awards including the prestigious UNEP Borlaug Award in 1998 and the UN-Equator Initiative Award-2002 at World Summit at Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (FNASc), Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAASc) and also Fellow of four other Scientific Bodies in India. |
| Prof. Dr. Ajit Varma is Director General Amity Institute of Microbial Technology (Amity University Uttar Pradesh) and Vice Chairman, Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation since 2004. He has done his Ph. D in1964 from Allahabad University. he worked as Microbiologist (Assistant Professor) IARI, New Delhi from1963-1974. He was Associate Professor in JNU, New Delhi from1975-1984 and than worked as Professor in JNU from 1985–2004. He has Visting Professorship and Visiting Research Scientist in universities like Technical University, Graz (Austria), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen (Germany), Friedrich Schiller University, Jena (Germany), Philipps University, Marburg (Germany), Technical University, Muenchen (Germany) etc. He received International Awards like Commonwealth Fellowship (Australia), National Research Council (Canada), Alexander von-Humboldt Foundation (Germany), National Science Foundation (USA), Indo-Czechoslovakia Exchange Programme (Prague) and many more. He has awarded Ph.D Degree to 46 students. He has Published over 279 research articles, Published 31 books of national and international repute. |
1Amity Institute of Microbial Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector 125, Noida, 201 301, India. 2Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech Product Development, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. *Corresponding author: Harsha Kharkwal, E-mail: hkharkwal@amity.edu
Abstract This Review article gives an awareness on status of herbal contraception by citing the studies done in past, present and future developments. The population explosion clearly explains that there is an urgent need for development of alternative contraceptive methods. With herbal contraception getting its acceptance in the form of microbicides, this field needs to be explored still further. The article also provides an overview of present day contraception methods used including surgical, pills, condoms, and suppositories/gels etc. Special interest is given to a novel plant Gloriosa superba L. (Liliaceae) an herbaceous plant possessing contraceptive properties. The active ingredient in this plant is Colchicine, which immobilizes the sperms and causes temporary reversible male sterility. Since there are not much contraception alternatives for men, advanced study on this plant may prove to be a boon for men to share the burden of family planning. Colchicine has abortifacient properties, which can also be exploited. It is also emphasized that since plants with medicinal properties have a history of extinction due to over utilization there is immense need for enhancement of their biomass and active ingredient. Therefore, the plants can be interacted with symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus like Priformospora indica, Sebacina vermifera and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria for their biomass and secondary metabolite enhancement. Top Keywords Colchicine, Gloriosa superba, herbal contraception, sperms, male sterility. Top |