Galactagogue Effect Of Fresh Palmwine In Adult Albino Wistar Rats: Histological Changes In The Hypothalamus And Serum Prolactin Levels

Abstract

Palm wine is one of the most well-known natural galactagogues used in the treatment of lactation failure in Africa. Traditional healers claim that certain plants are more effective as well as safer than synthetic medications in treating infectious ailments. Despite the descriptions by traditional herbal practitioners on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal products, there is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of palm wine as a galactagogue. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the effect of fresh palm wine on the histology of the hypothalamus and prolactin levels in postpartum female albino Wistar rats that will be a factor of positive or negative lactation effects. A total of fifteen (15) adult female Wistar rats were procured from the  Animal Facility  of  the  College  of  Medical sciences  University  of  Calabar,  and    were  acclimatized  to  the  conditions  of  the animal house of the faculty of basic medical sciences, university of Calabar. They were grouped into three (3) of five animal per group. Group A was given water (control); Group B was administered with 1900mg (1.9 mls) of palm wine (low dose); and Group C was given 3,800mg (3.8 mls) of palm wine (high dose). The rats were euthanized using chloroform at day 14 of treatment, and their hypothalami were extracted and prepared for histological examination. Blood samples were also collected for blood serum analysis early hours of the morning from the right ventricle of the heart. The results revealed that the slides from Group A showed several tiny spherical vacuoles and blood arteries, as well as well-distributed neuronal cell bodies. The neuronal cell bodies in Group B were larger and clustered, with larger irregular vacuoles and blood vessels. The slides from Group C showed more hyperplastic and clustered cell bodies, as well as larger irregular vacuoles and blood vessels. In comparison to the control (Group A), blood serum analysis revealed a significant increase in prolactin levels in Group B rats and an even greater increase in Group C.  The findings of this study show that a progressive increase in neuronal cell bodies of the hypothalamic cells and serum prolactin levels which suggests the efficacy of fresh palm wine as a galactagogue for treatment of lactation failure.