Ethnoveterinary importance of herbal galactogogues - a review

Abstract

Galactogogues elicit pharmacological effects, resulting in increased prolactin concentration through interactions with dopamine receptors and thereby augmenting milk supply. Commercially available synthetic drugs induce adverse effect on the neuro-endocrine axis of lactation physiology. Their prolonged uses have caused toxicity which opens a detrimental platform to normal health status of both human and animals. So the researchers have developed a keen interest in traditional herbs, because these are easily available, cheap and with a hope that they may not leave any toxic residues in milk. Phytopharmacological research on natural products can contribute for the discovery of new active compounds with novel structures which may serve as a lead for the development of new galactogogues. Although majority of these herbal preparations have not been evaluated their traditional use suggests that they are safe and effective. The purpose of this review paper was to succinctly review recent progress made in the field of commercially available and tranditional galactogogues. phytonutrients, prolactin.

Ethnobotanical uses of wild taxa as galactagogues in Sicily (Italy)

“…We compared the data gathered during the field study to other ethnobotanical investigations dealing with this subject, and to national and international ethnobotanical literature sources and popular references that considered the traditional uses of wild plants in local cuisines for galactagogue purposes [1,12,23,[28][29][30][31][32]39,[49][50][51][52]. The data obtained (frequency of mention, usage of the parts of the plants, and methods of preparation) were evaluated using the cross-table analysis tool in Microsoft Excel software.…”

“…Seeds Infusion Elemene, selinene, furanone, dihydrobenzofuran, muurolene, dihydroactinidiolide, alkaloids (trigonelline, gentianine, carpaine), saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, gitogenin, tigogenin), flavonoids (vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, vicenins, quercetin, luteolin), and galactomannan [23] 40 (14) 20 (7) 31 ( [23] 11 (4) 9 (3)…”

“…Leaves as infusion, fresh fruit Polypeptides, flavonoids, glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, tannins, pectin, fructose, volatile oil, citric acid, malic acid, vitamin (A, B complex, C, E), and minerals (Fe, Ca, K, P, N, Mg, S, B, Cu, Mn, Zn); fruit: anthocyanins, carotenoids, β-carotene, and licopene [14,23] 52 (18) 40 (14) 26 ( (27) 65 (23) 54 (19) Urtica dioica L. [4,6]; stinging hairs: histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, acetic acid, butyric acid, leukotrienes, 5-hydroxytryptamine [6] groups with a frequency ranging between 49% and 77%. Nigella damascena, Tragopogon porrifolius, and Crepis vesicaria were rarely cited, especially by the 20-39 age group, whereas Urospermum dalechampii was not mentioned by the youngest interviewed people (Tab.…”

“…Infusion Iridoid glycosides (verbenin, verbenalin, bastatoside), tannin, volatile oils (citral, geraniol, limonene, verbenone), saponins, mucilage and alkaloids [23] 43 (15) 60 (21) 31 (11) Vitex agnuscastus L.…”

“…They include a wide variety of secondary metabolites, i.e., hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, flavones, flavonones, isoflavones, stilbenes, and lignins, which are involved in protecting plants against ultraviolet radiation, aggression by pathogens, or stressrelated responses. It has been reported that some terpenoids and saponins possess similar phytoestrogen effects [3][4][5]7,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Several hundreds of these molecules are that improve poor milk secretion, e.g., cooked lettuce, watercress and wild fennel, boiled nettle tops, pasta with endive, and sesame in bread [58].…”