title: Contraceptive effect of Curcuma longa (L.) in male albino rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the contraceptive effect of the crude extracts of Curcuma longa in male albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were fed orally with Curcuma longa aqueous and 70% alcoholic extract for 60 days (500 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reduction in sperm motility and density was observed in both the treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcuma longa may have affected the androgen synthesis either by inhibiting the Leydig cell function or the hypothalamus pituitary axis and as a result, spermatogenesis is arrested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, JNV University, Jodhpur (Raj.) 342 005, India. purohit1411@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Purohit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.forename: Bhagat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meenakshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D010936:Plant Extracts