Evaluation of In vivo Reversible Antiovulatory Activity of Ursolic Acid after Cupric Acetate Induced Ovulation in Wistar Female Rats

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.