Ethnoveterinary importance of herbal galactogogues-a review

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.


Lactogenesis and role of galactogogues
Galactogogues are medications that aid in initiating, maintaining, and augmenting of adequate milk production.The term galactogogue refers to substances that augment established lactation, whereas the term galactopoietic is used independently to describe the hormone preparations which enhance milk production in an animal already in lactation [1].
Galactogogues may be synthetic, plant-derived or endogenous products.They act through exerting an influence on adreno-hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis by blocking hypothalamic dopaminergic receptors or by inhibiting dopamine producing neurons.These medications increase prolactin secretion by antagonizing dopamine receptors [2].Most of the information about herbal medication comes from Indian Traditional Knowledge (ITK) because more than 80% of world population depends on it for primary health care and the information is passed through generations [3].Herbs and their preparations have multiple diverse useful actions on the human and animal health.[3].So, phyto-pharmacological research on natural products can show a ray of hope for the discoveryofnew active compounds with novel structure which have potential to serve as a natural lead compound for development of new galactogogues.Majority of these herbal preparations have however not been scientifically, systematically and thoroughly evaluated, but their traditional use suggests some safety and efficacy.
Milk production (lactogenesis), which is a consequence of neuro-endocrine event, is a complex neurophysiological process that involves interaction of a number of physical and emotional factors along with action of multiple hormones, mainly prolactin.During parturition and expulsion of the placenta, progesterone concentration reduced resulting in initiation of full milk supply [4].Dopamine agonists and antagonists regulate prolactin synthesis and secretion through interaction with the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary and thereby control milk production [3].Thereafter, prolactin levels gradually decrease but milk supply is maintained or increased by local feedback mechanisms [5].Therefore, an increase in prolactin levels is mandatory to increase milk production but not to maintain its supply.The anterior pituitary plays a significant role for the development of the mammary gland, initiation of lactogenesis and lactation that has been described following the administration of pituitary extracts.So the term 'prolactin'has been described for pituitary substance.It is assumed that, pituitary extract is rich in growth hormone responsible for milk production in lactating cattle.Lactogenesis and ejection both are stress for lactating cows and in turn are affected by stress of any other reason.As because hormone action is completely dependent on emotion and stress, so control of stress is the primary factor on the way of lactogenesis.The advantages of herbal medicines are due to constituent chemicals developed as a result of co-evolution between flora and fauna and their enzyme driven synthesis leading to development of optically pure chiral molecules with specific reactions in the mammalian body
eugenol, racemosus trifoliin, coumarins coumarin), minerals, rative, carminative, stomachic and tonic), and Calshakti platina [3] are some of the herbal galactogogues manufactured by different pharmaceuticals to safeguard the health of the animal and the ultimate user.
(Jivanti) and (Shatavari) are very commonly incorporated in the preparation of these pharmaceuticals due to their promising effect.Some of the commonly used polyherbal preparations along with their dose, brand name and name of the manufacturing company are described as in Table-3.
As many herbal plants contain large number of chemical active principles, having galactogenic properties; can be used as herbal medicine for of letting-down of milk in milch animals.Among  ) plant ingredients have been emphasized in Ayurveda to induce lactogenesis and lactation.So, a thorough, critical and scientific evaluation is necessary to include theses herbs as potent herbal galactogogues.A bulk of literatures have spoken about the isolation of active principles of herbs through study, thus questioning about their safety and efficacy as such, because the theoretical concerns have not been proved experience Judging an herb by individual constituents does not take into account the possible ameliorating effects of its other constituents.Again these herbs can be potentially toxic if not used properly at proper dose, drug form and through specified route of administration.Just because they are natural, doesn't mean they are entirely safe.Standardization of methods and quality control data on safety and efficacy are essential for the understanding of the use of these herbs.Hence, it is high time that further research on pharmacokinetics, dose rate, long and/or short-term detrimental effects of these agents on the metabolic rate of related body tissues should be done, before marketing them as large/ small ruminant medicine.Again, it is imperative to probe into actual mode of action in order to exploit the compounds responsible for the observed galactopoetic activity by focusing on the target organ.The research dents on indigenous herbal products/ medicinal plants as galactogogues need patent rights in order to have foreign recognition [10].Worldwide figure presents, hundreds of plants used as galactogogue have estrogenic, oxytocic or other reproductive hormonal effects in laboratory conditions [37].Before selecting any galactogogue, a report of complete animal health history as well as its productive and reprodu-

Lead compound Mechanism of action References
Alkaloids Help in letting down of milk.[8,26]

Isoflavones
Increases milk yield as well as fat, protein and lactose percentage of milk.
[27] Polyphenols Improve milk yield, concentration of milk protein and ovulation rate, prevent bloat in cattle, reduce gastrointestinal nematode numbers and fly strike.Saponin Ruminotoric, improves the health status as well as productivity.
[29] Improve rumen bio-hydrogenation with proper ruminal protection to achieve impressive increases in the omega 3 fatty acids in the milk.Ruminotoric, alter the milk fat composition and the oxidative stability of the fat as well.
[31] Tannins Anthelmintic, Ruminotoric, improves protein digestion and health status.[32,33] [28] [30] Stearidonic Acid, α-linolenic acid ctive status, including any medical conditions, history of parity, current medications is important before administration of any drug.The therapeutic approach is to detect the root cause of the agalactia so as to administer a medication or herb that seems to target the same.
Galactogogues provide a rich and ever-evolving research topic at prevailing time.Use of plant and synthetic products to enhance lactation are widespread and numerous literatures in the medical sector have been published about the efficacy of various galactogogues.We have documented an overview of the most widely used plants that are used as galactogogues in veterinary practice.Still there exists a further need to deepen the horizon of research on the phytochemical composition of the herbs, their mode of action, and furthermore to assess the lethal dose as well as explain how further studies might be conducted to bridge the gap between common uses and lack of studies on the safety and effectiveness of these herbs in lactation.Hence, an optimal standardization and dosing recommendations of these herbal galactogogues by an explicit clarification in pre-clinical and clinical studies through in-vitro and in-vivo experimentations is needed before they are being harvested as a potential new drug in the market.IM prepared the initial version of the manuscript.MRS and DJ assisted in literature collection and edited the final manuscript.IM, MRS and PCB drafted and revised the manuscript for critical scientific corrections All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Table - 1
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Table - 3
: Commercial drugs available in market used as galactogogues.