Polyherbal formula (ASILACT®) induces Milk production in lactating rats through Upregulation of α-Lactalbumin and aquaporin expression

Background: Polyherbal formula (PHF) contains extract of Sauropus androgynous (L.) Merr., Trigonella foenumgraceum
L., and Moringa oleifera Lam. considered to induce galactagogue activity. This research aimed to evaluate
the galactagogue activity of PHF and its effects on α-lactalbumin (LALBA) as well as aquaporin (AQP) gene
expression at messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels in mammary glands of lactating rats.
Methods: Thirty lactating Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6), each has 7 pups. Group I was
treated orally with distilled water as negative control. Groups II, III, and IV were orally administered with PHF at
26.25, 52.5 and 105 mg/kg/day, respectively. Group V was treated with domperidone 2.7 mg/kg/day, orally as
positive control. The treatment was performed at third day until fifteenth day of parturition. The observed
parameters include the galactagogue activity indicating by milk yield of lactating rats, the pup weight changes and
lactating rats body weight changes during lactating period, mRNA expression of LALBA and AQP using quantitative
Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and histopathological analysis of mammary glands at the end of
treatment period.
Result: The result showed that the PHF groups (52.5 and 105 mg/kg/day) and domperidone were significantly
increased milk production of lactating rats (p < 0.05). The levels of mRNA expression of LALBA and AQPs were
significantly upregulated by 105 mg/kg/day of PHF or 2.7 mg/kg of domperidone administration (p < 0.0001).
Histopathological analysis of mammary glands shows that alveoli diameter was increase 14.59 and 19.33% at
105 mg/kg of PHF and 2.7 mg/kg of domperidone treatment, respectively.
Conclusion: The study suggested that PHF has potentially to induce galactagogue activity on lactating period
through upregulation of LALBA and AQP genes at the mRNA level.