Abstract
Lactogenic effect of ethyl acetate fraction of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em> seed was evaluated on serum prolactin and milk production in lactating albino rats. Twenty four lactating rats were grouped randomly at parturition into control, metoclopramide-treated and Ethyl-acetate-treated group consist of six rats in each group (n = 6). The lactating rats were administered control (normal saline), metoclopramide (5 mg/kg) and ethyl-acetate fraction (100 and 200 mg/kg) respectively from day 3-17 of lactation. Milk yield for rats were estimated by pup weight and weight gain. The animals were then euthanized on the day 18 and serum prolactin was analyzed using prolactin kit. The prolactin level of ethyl-acetate fraction of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em> showed a significant increase (p<0.01) when compared to control group. Pup weight gain was also significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control group. This can be deduced that ethyl-acetate fraction of <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em> L. seed has lactogenic activity because it increases serum prolactin level and milk production in lactating female albino rats. <em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em> L. seed stimulate prolactin synthesis; release and milk production in albino rats and it is affordable and safe for consumption.
Highlights
Prolactin secretion is affected by a large variety of stimuli provided by the environment and internal milieu like the effect of the chemistry of lactation
The measurement of milk production rates in rats is difficult, (Morag et al, 1975; Sampson and Jansen, 1984) a more feasible direct method is to use the pups to remove the milk from the dam and to determine the amount of milk sucked by the litter (Morag et al, 1975)
The ethyl acetate fraction of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. seed produced an appreciable increase in serum prolactin level when compared to the control with potency higher than the standard drug metoclopramide
Summary
Prolactin secretion is affected by a large variety of stimuli provided by the environment and internal milieu like the effect of the chemistry of lactation. There have been reports that some of the African women with lactation insufficiency those living in villages depend largely on herbal supplements for milk yield increase or milk induction despite the modern alternative bottle feeding (Okasha et al, 2008). The best-known physiological stimulus affecting prolactin secretion is the suckling stimulus applied by the nursing young. This has been characterized as a classical neuro-endocrine reflex, just as muscle contraction evoked by an electrochemical stimulus is described as a stimulus-contraction reflex (Freeman et al, 2000). The study is designed to evaluate the lactogenic effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed
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