Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats

Background: An herbal galactagogue formula in Thai traditional medicine, known as the Prasanamnom formula (PNF), has been utilized to increase maternal breast milk. The traditional method of administering PNF is via decoction, which has become inconvenient in modern times. Consequently, it has been...

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Main Authors: Pruksa Chotitham, Suksalin Booranasubkajorn, Saracha Pattanapholkornsakul, Pravit Akarasereenont, Pinpat Tripatara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Phytomedicine Plus
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000181
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author Pruksa Chotitham
Suksalin Booranasubkajorn
Saracha Pattanapholkornsakul
Pravit Akarasereenont
Pinpat Tripatara
author_facet Pruksa Chotitham
Suksalin Booranasubkajorn
Saracha Pattanapholkornsakul
Pravit Akarasereenont
Pinpat Tripatara
author_sort Pruksa Chotitham
collection DOAJ
description Background: An herbal galactagogue formula in Thai traditional medicine, known as the Prasanamnom formula (PNF), has been utilized to increase maternal breast milk. The traditional method of administering PNF is via decoction, which has become inconvenient in modern times. Consequently, it has been newly produced in a powdered form for capsule prescription. However, the efficacy and safety of PNF in either form have not been studied. Purpose: This study investigated the effects of PNF decoction and powder on milk production and their safety regarding organ functions. Methods: Maternal rats were administered distilled water, PNF decoction (300, 600, 1000 mg/kg), or PNF powder from the capsule (100, 300, 1000 mg/kg), or given 10 mg/kg domperidone as a positive control, once daily on postnatal days (PND) 1 to 21. Milk yield was estimated by pup weight. Analyses were conducted on maternal blood samples collected on prenatal days, and PND 7, 14, and 21, and pup blood samples collected on PND 22. Results: PNF decoction (600 mg/kg) and domperidone significantly increased the mean of milk production and serum prolactin level when compared with the vehicle control. The PNF powder had no such effects. Both PNF decoction and powder did not exhibit subacute toxicity to the liver and kidneys in maternal rats and pups. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the PNF decoction in improving both milk production and prolactin levels was similar to that of domperidone. Additionally, the traditional decoction method was effective in increasing milk production and elevating serum prolactin levels in mother rats.
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spelling doaj-art-0e6a780df6f648de9b6561c3cc6560cf2025-02-10T04:35:23ZengElsevierPhytomedicine Plus2667-03132025-02-0151100745Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating ratsPruksa Chotitham0Suksalin Booranasubkajorn1Saracha Pattanapholkornsakul2Pravit Akarasereenont3Pinpat Tripatara4Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandCenter of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandCenter of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, ThailandDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Wanglang Rd., Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.Background: An herbal galactagogue formula in Thai traditional medicine, known as the Prasanamnom formula (PNF), has been utilized to increase maternal breast milk. The traditional method of administering PNF is via decoction, which has become inconvenient in modern times. Consequently, it has been newly produced in a powdered form for capsule prescription. However, the efficacy and safety of PNF in either form have not been studied. Purpose: This study investigated the effects of PNF decoction and powder on milk production and their safety regarding organ functions. Methods: Maternal rats were administered distilled water, PNF decoction (300, 600, 1000 mg/kg), or PNF powder from the capsule (100, 300, 1000 mg/kg), or given 10 mg/kg domperidone as a positive control, once daily on postnatal days (PND) 1 to 21. Milk yield was estimated by pup weight. Analyses were conducted on maternal blood samples collected on prenatal days, and PND 7, 14, and 21, and pup blood samples collected on PND 22. Results: PNF decoction (600 mg/kg) and domperidone significantly increased the mean of milk production and serum prolactin level when compared with the vehicle control. The PNF powder had no such effects. Both PNF decoction and powder did not exhibit subacute toxicity to the liver and kidneys in maternal rats and pups. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the PNF decoction in improving both milk production and prolactin levels was similar to that of domperidone. Additionally, the traditional decoction method was effective in increasing milk production and elevating serum prolactin levels in mother rats.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000181BreastfeedingLactationMilk productionHerbal formulaDomperidone
spellingShingle Pruksa Chotitham
Suksalin Booranasubkajorn
Saracha Pattanapholkornsakul
Pravit Akarasereenont
Pinpat Tripatara
Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
Phytomedicine Plus
Breastfeeding
Lactation
Milk production
Herbal formula
Domperidone
title Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
title_full Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
title_short Efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
title_sort efficacy and safety of an herbal galactagogue decoction versus powdered formulation in lactating rats
topic Breastfeeding
Lactation
Milk production
Herbal formula
Domperidone
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031325000181
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