effects of short term administration of tulsi leaves on sexual

Indian
J Physiol
LETTER
Pharmacol
1999; 43 (3) : 398-400
TO THE EDITOR
EFFECTS OF SHORT TERM ADMINISTRATION
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IN FEMALE RATS
OF TULSI LEAVES ON
Sir,
( Received on October 10, 1996)
estrous cycle. Every day during fixed period
each of these female rats were presented
with
healthy
male
rats
of proven
reproductive
activity. The female rat was
kept with male rats for a total time of 10
minutes.
During
this
time
L.Q. was
measured (5).
The leaves of ocimum sanctum (Tulsi)
have antifertility and abortifacient effect in
female rats (1-3). These also decrease the
sexual behavioural score in male rats (4).
However, in none of these studies (1-3) the
reproductory
behaviour was measured in
terms of Lordosis quotient (L.Q) in female
rats. The present
study was therefore
undertaken
to study the alterations
in
reproductory behaviour in terms of LQ after
administration
of Tulsi extract in adult
female albino rats.
After control study of 8 days these rats
were given fresh Tulsi leaves
extract
(ocimum sanctum Linn). Each rat was given
orally 80 mgs of fresh Tulsi leaves extract
prepared in 15 ml of 5% glucose per day for
two weeks (4). After 2 weeks Tulsi leaves
were discontinued and they were given only
water for a period of another
2 weeks.
During this entire period of study their
estrous cycle was studied and reproductive
behaviour in terms of LQ was quantitatively
measured. The Estrous cycle was disrupted
15 adult female albino rats weighing
between 180 and 220 grams were taken.
These rarts were separated
in individual
plastic cages and were given food and water
ad libitum. Their Estrous cycle was studied
everyday by taking vaginal smears. All of
them were found to be having normal
TABLE
Group
Number
L.Q.
*P<0.05;
Control
I:
Effect
of Tulsi
leaves
on Lordosis
Quotient
(x-SEM)
(LQ).
Tusli administration
stopped but water
adminiatered
Tulsi administration
1st week
2nd week
1st week
2nd week
15
15
15
15
15
38 ± 5.2
24 ± 3.8
**P<O.OOI
20.0 ± 4*
6 ± 1.2**
6±1.1**
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol
Letter to the Editor
1999; 43(3)
after the administration
of Tulsi and finally
the rats showed only the diestrus phase. In
control
rats,
LQ was maxium
during
proesturs followed by estrus and metestrus,
the least-being
in diestrus
phase. After
administration
of Tulsi,
LQ decreased
(P<O.05) and this decrease continued further
even the stoppage
of Tulsi (P<O.OOl)
(Table I).
In the present study the estrous cycle
of rats was disrupted from second week of
tulsi administration
finally
showing
a
continuous diestrous phase. This is probably
due to tulsi leaves extract inhibiting ovarian
hormones. Smith et al reported that the
hormonal conditions during estrous as well
as estrogen-progresterone
treatment
in
ovariectomized
female rats significantly
potentiated the three immobility responses
viz. Lordosis, tonic immobility and dorsal
immobility response, and suggested that the
ovarian hormones act through a common
mechanism shared by all three responses
(6). This explains
why LQ is maximum
during proestrous
followed by estrous,
metestrous
and least
diestrous
399
phase.
The LQ decreased
markedly
after
administration
of Tulsi leaves. This is
probably
due to inhibition
of ovarian
hormones
by Tulsi
leaves.
Lordosis
behaviour
is a sequense
of sensorimotor
reflexes. Dopamine system in striatum and
forebrain is believed to inhibit the lordosis
response
(7). It was seen that selective
destruction of dopamine system with 60HDA
(8) or blockadge with dopamine antagonist
(haloperiool)
(9) facilitates
Lordosis
behaviour; while dopamine receptor agonist
(d-amploetamine)
blocked Lordosis (10). It
is also documented that acute exposure to
estrogen suppressed behaviours mediated by
dopamine systems (11, 12). Thus in our
study administration
of tulsi leaves probably
inhibited
affects of ovarian hormones on
dopamine
system.
Therefore,
Lordosis
quotient decreased after .administration
of
tulsi leaves. This effect of Tulsi leaves is
probably
long
lasting
and
so after
discontinuing tulsi leaves Lordosis quotient
remained suppressed for two weeks.
SANDIP R. SARDESSAI*, ABHAYA S. BaRKER
AND MARJORIE E. ABRAHAM
Department
of Physiology,
Goa Medical College,
Bambolim,
Goa - 403 202
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