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

## TL;DR

This study explores how chicken-herb essence can boost milk production and improve infant health in rats.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the lactagogue effect of chicken-herb essence in a rat model, linking it to increased prolactin, lactoferrin, and IgA.

## Key findings

- Chicken-herb essence increased milk production in lactating rats.
- Treatment group II showed the highest increases in prolactin and lactoferrin levels.
- Offspring from treatment group II had the highest IgA concentration in blood serum.

## 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.