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Abstract

Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpinoid compound, the major constituents of the Tulsi leaves, has been suggested to possess antifertility effect in rats of both sexes. This study has attempted to investigate the anti-fertility potentials of Ocimum sanctum leaf extract and ursolic acid in male albino rats. Three groups of male albino rats were taken, first group as control, second group were administered with Ocimum sanctum leaf extract and third group with ursolic acid. The administrations of OS and UA bring the alterations in carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes and lipid composition which leads to changes in functional quality of spermatozoa. The reduced lipid in seminal vesicle and prostate represents the lowered lipid metabolism and lipogenesis, suggesting some alterations in the chemical composition of the seminal plasma and prostatic fluids. The elevated glucose levels in testes and epidydimis due to the decreased uptake by the spermatogenic cells in OS and UA administered rats. The administrations may mediate the up regulation of the G6PDH with increased production of ribose-5-phosphate which enhances DNA synthesis and thus increased cell proliferation of the hepatocytes. Besides the up regulation of G6PDH that was observed in the liver in this experiment, it can be suggested that in the administration of O. sanctum, carbohydrates are facilitated more along the hexose monophosphate pathway.