Natural surfactants as potential contraceptive and spermicidal agents

摘要

Sameh M.Arab,writing for Arab World Books(www.arabworld-books.com),quotes the Ebers Papryus,an ancient medical manuscript dating from 1550 BCE:"To cause a woman to stop being pregnant,be it one,two or three years:part of acacia,colocynth,dates,finely ground in a hin of honey,fibers are moistened therewith,introduced into her vagina."She continues:"Contraception was also performed by the insertion of crocodile oil,gum acacia,or honey consperge and natron[Na2CO3·10H2O]into the vagina.Gum Acacia sp.when dissolved produces lactic acid,a very effective known spermicidal."