The Potential of Chicken-Herb Essence to Improve Milk Production and Infant Health in the Sprague Dawley Animal Model

Abstract

Breast milk serves as the primary source of nourishment for newborns. In cases of low milk production, one approach to address this challenge involves the consumption of lactagogues. Chicken-herb essence, a beverage rich in protein, amino acids, and minerals, presents itself as a viable option to supplement a lactating mother's diet, particularly in terms of protein intake. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chicken-herb essence on prolactin and lactoferrin in lactating rats. Furthermore, the study also assessed the lactagogue effect on IgA in offspring. The experimental research method used a completely randomized design. The animal models in this study were female Sprague Dawley rats. The result showed that there was an increase in milk production, as seen from the results of the lactagogue effect. The highest increase in prolactin and lactoferrin was obtained in treatment group II (TG II). The increases in prolactin and lactoferrin of TG II were 214.18 ± 71.99 and 904.02 ± 435.35 pg/mL, respectively. The lactagogue test showed that TG II haspotency as a milk-booster. Testing the blood serum of offspring showed that the highest concentration of IgA was also found in TG II at 398.34 ± 214.85 pg/mL.

Keywords: animal model; anserine; carnosine; lactagogue; lactation.

Figure 1

The visual appearance of chicken–herb essence.

Figure 2

Lactagogue test on Sprague Dawley rats. ^a,b Different superscript letters in each column are significantly different at p < 0.05.

Figure 3

The histopathological examination of mammary gland tissues involved staining panels (a–d) with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E, 400× magnification). The number of alveolar cells per field of view. (a) Normal; (b) positive control; (c) treatment Group I; and (d) treatment Group II.

Figure 4

Number of alveolar cells per alveoli in the mammary gland. Same superscript letters in different group treatments are not significantly different (p > 0.05).

Figure 5

Average alveolar cell diameter in the mammary gland. ^a–b, Different superscript letters in each column are significantly different at p < 0.05 and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s post hoc test. TG I, treatment group I; TG II, treatment group II.

Figure 6

Lymphocyte cells in mammary glands. (a) Observation of lymphocyte cells in the positive control group of the inguinal region; (b) observation of lymphocyte cells in the positive control group of the thoracic region; (c) observation of lymphocyte cells in treatment group I in the inguinal region; (d) observation of lymphocyte cells in treatment group I in the thoracic region; (e) observation of lymphocyte cells in treatment group II in the inguinal region; and (f) observation of lymphocyte cells in treatment group II in the inguinal region. Red arrow shows the presence of lymphocyte cells in the mammary gland.