Evaluation of galactagogue activity of lactovedic: A polyherbal formulation

Abstract

Lactovedic is a lactogenic polyherbal formulation containing Jivanti, Shatavari, Vidarikanda, Yashtimadhu and Shatapushpa, and is processed with swarasas of Brahmi, Mandukaparni, Matsyakshi, Shatavari and Kokilaksha. The aim of this study was to evaluate the galactagogue activity of lactovedic. Rats (175–200 g) suckling eight to nine pups were divided into four groups (n=6). Control group rats were treated with vehicle (2 ml of 1% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium in normal saline) orally, Group II and Group III rats were orally administered 270 and 540 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of lactovedic suspended in vehicle, and Group IV animals were treated orally with 2.7 mg/kg body weight of domperidone suspended in vehicle from 3rd day of parturition to 15th day of parturition. Milk yield at 18 hours, the weight of pups at 18 and 23 hours and the daily weight of the mother rat were estimated. On 16th day, blood
samples were collected and mother rats were sacrificed. Glycogen and total protein content in mammary gland and serum prolactin
and cortisol were estimated. Results were statistically analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey-Kramer
post hoc test. Histopathology of mammary gland was performed. Lactovedic increases the milk yield, pups’ body weight, weight of
the mother rat, glycogen and protein content of mammary gland tissue, and serum prolactin and cortisol, compared to the control
animals. Transverse section of mammary gland of lactovedic treated rats showed proliferation of acini and marked increase in milk secretion in the ducts. It can be concluded that lactovedic possesses significant galactagogue activity.
Key words: Cortisol, galactagogue, histopathology of mammary gland, lactovedic, milk yield, prolactin, pups weight