Ethnic practices and human welfare in India: An attempt for controlling fertility
Abstract
Population explosion in certain parts of the world, especially in the developing countries like India, has led to a continuous effort towards development. The therapeutic properties of medicinal plants are conditioned by the presence in their organs of active substances, such as alkaloids, glycosides, vitamins, tanins and coumarin compounds which physiologically affects the bodies of humans and animals or which are biologically active in relation to causative agents of various diseases. The tribal people and ethnic races throughout the world have developed their own medical practices. The root extract of Abutilon indicum (L.) (Beng-Potari) was selected for the present experimental study of antifertility activity in the male albino mice. Treatment after seven days (dosage of 1 g/kg.bw./day), the gradual decease in the seminiferous tubular area. Nuclear diameter of epithelial cells and tubular area of the epididymis, Sertoli cells and sperm populations were also decreased significantly.
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