A BIRTH control pill for men has been developed using the poison in darts that can fell an elephant.
The contraceptive contains a chemically tweaked version of the toxic plant extract ouabain, used by African hunters to bring down prey.
It made lab rodents infertile by impeding their sperm’s ability to swim.
However, the effects are reversible because it affects only mature cells, researchers insist.
Ouabain is found in two African plants, the woody vine Strophanthus gratus and in Acokanthera trees.
Bushmen in Kenya use the poison on the tips of their arrows, which can bring down an elephant.
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It is known to curb fertility in males but is not safe as it damages heart tissue.
Now US scientists have tweaked the compound to take out the potentially fatal chemicals.
The team from Minnesota University is hopeful it can now be developed into the first male contraceptive pill.
Researcher Prof Gunda Georg said: “Male contraceptive methods are basically limited to the use of condoms and vasectomy.”
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