ANTIFERTILITY EFFICACY OF BETEL LEAF STALK EXTRACT IN MALE ALBINO RATS

The present study was designed to study the impact of Betel leaf stalk extract on glucose, glycogen, pyruvic acid and lactic acid contents in reproductive tissues to understand the carbohydrate metabolism and its role in male albino rats. The administration of Betel leaf stalk extract, brings physiological changes in carbohydrate metabolism in reproductive tissues of rats. In order to assess antifertility effect in testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland, estimation of glucose, glycogen, lactic acid and pyruvic acid has been undertaken. The result showed testicular glucose and glycogen levels were not significantly affected by betel leaf stalk extract. The deprivation of ABP levels and the concentration of dihydrotestosterone may be the reason for elevation in glucose levels in epididymis. The accumulation of lactic acid in testes is the direct evidence for the antispermatogenic effect of betel leaf stalk extract. Higher pyruvic acid content, probably due to higher glycolysis.