Effect of Sauropus androgynus Leaf Extracts on the Expression of Prolactin and Oxytocin Genes in Lactating BALB/C Mice

Abstract

Sauropus androgynus is traditionally consumed by Indonesians and is believed to increase breast milk production during lactation. Lactation, a process of milk synthesis and secretion, occurs with the help of 2 hormones, prolactin and oxytocin. The expressions of genes encoding prolactin and oxytocin were analyzed in lactating BALB/C mice brains using qRT-PCR. A total of 24 lactating BALB/C mice were fed with experimental diets for 12 days. Two groups of lactating mice were fed with diets containing either young or mature S. androgynus leaf extracts. For the control, one group of lactating mice was fed a diet without S. androgynus leaf extracts. Supplementation of young S. androgynus leaf extracts increased the expression of prolactin and oxytocin genes in lactating mice 9.04- and 2.25-fold, respectively. Meanwhile, supplementation of mature S. androgynus leaf extracts increased the expressions of both genes 15.75- and 25.77-fold, respectively, compared to the control group. The result suggested that mature S. androgynus leaf extracts significantly increased the expressions of both genes in lactating BALB/C mice and was predicted to correlate with papaverine content, which is only detected in mature S. androgynus leaves at a concentration of 0.38 ± 0.04 µg·ml^–1.

Impacts of Macronutrients on Gene Expression: Recent Evidence to Understand Productive and Reproductive Performance of Livestock

“…Although having an association with bronchiolitis (Sawahata et al, 2010) and cytotoxic activity (Yunita et al, 2013), Sauropus androgynus is traditionally consumed by several Southeast Asian countries and is believed to be an enhancer of milk production during lactation (Bunawan et al, 2015). When feeding S. androgynus leaf extract to lactating mice, it enhanced the expression of two prominent genes (prolactin and oxytocin) regulating milk production and subsequently, increased milk production (Soka et al, 2010) suggesting their potential use to increase milk production in livestock ruminants (Gabbi et al, 2015).…”

Synergistic effect of <i>Elephantopus scaber</i> L and <i>Sauropus androgynus</i> L merr extracts in modulating prolactin hormone and erythropoiesis in pregnant typhoid mice

“…The administration of S. androgynus leaf extract has been shown to significantly increase prolactin gene expression in mice [17]. S. androgynus acts as a secondary messenger in cell signal transduction of hormones and growth factors.…”

Implementing ‘bio-prospecting reproductive knowledge’: An effort scenario to conserved Indonesian biodiversity and endemicity toward a post-modern globalized world

“…S. androgynus could induces the increased of the prolactin and oxytoxin genes expression in lactating mice that fed with a diet containing S. androgynus leaf extracts. 15 Papaverin is the secondary metabolites of S. androgynus that has role to inhibits phosphodiesterase activity and accumulates cAMP, that has roles as a second messenger for intracellular signal transduction. 15 Based on that mechanism, papaverin is an agent that could dilated the blood vessels and caused the increasing of blood flow.…”

“…15 Papaverin is the secondary metabolites of S. androgynus that has role to inhibits phosphodiesterase activity and accumulates cAMP, that has roles as a second messenger for intracellular signal transduction. 15 Based on that mechanism, papaverin is an agent that could dilated the blood vessels and caused the increasing of blood flow. Therefore, the circulation of prolactin and oxytocin to the tragets cells will be increased.…”