ABSTRACT:
This study investigates the reversible antiovulatory activity of ursolic acid in Wistar albino female rats, using cupric acetate to induce ovulation. Ursolic acid solubility was optimized for uniform distribution in a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) vehicle. Dosages were derived from the LD50 of ursolic acid, with low and high doses selected as 100mg/kg and 250mg/kg, correspondingly. After being isolated for 21 days, 24 of 30 rats were randomized to one of four groups: recovery high dosage, low dose, high dose, or vehicle control. Ursolic acid was administered orally via gavage for three days, followed by intravenous cupric acetate (4 mg/mL) to induce ovulation. Mortality, morbidity, clinical signs, body weight (BW), absolute and relative ovary weights, and histopathological parameters were assessed. All animals were euthanized 24 hours post-cupric acetate administration. No mortality or morbidity was observed. High-dose ursolic acid significantly reduced body weight and ovary weight compared to controls. Histopathological analysis showed fewer corpora lutea in the high-dose group and restored follicular formation in the recovery group. These findings suggest that ursolic acid exhibits reversible antiovulatory activity in Wistar female rats under the conditions of this study.