The Role of Dill (Anethumgreavelon) Alcoholic Extract on MammaryGlands Performance and Some Plasma Biochemical Parameters During Lactation Period in Rats

Abstract

This investigation was designed to determine the effect of Dill alcoholic extract administration during the last trimester of gestation until the 11th day of lactation on milk quantity and quality . Ten pregnant rats at 15th day of gestation divided randomly into two group: control group received physiological normal saline daily from 15th day of gestation till 11th day of lactation. Treated group received alcoholic extract of dill daily in dose (0.017gm )from 15th day of gestation till 11th day of lactation. At the 10th day of lactation the litters were isolated from their mother overnight then reunited and allowed to suckling for 1hr then the mother and litters were weighted. They were anesthetized for blood collection and estimated some plasma milk related component like plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin and calcium which they are reflect on milk quality then the mothers and litters were sacrificed for mammary glands isolation and stomachs of litters in order to estimate the milk quantity. The results showed that Dill alcoholic extract produce relative increase in the mammary gland weight at the 11th day of lactation; while the litter weight gain, litter stomach weight and prolactin hormone concentration recorded significant increase p<0.01 as compare to control group. The results of biochemical study revealed that Dill alcoholic extract caused a significant increase in plasma globulin, triglycerides and calcium at eleventh day of lactation while plasma total protein, albumin, cholesterol and glucose showed un significantly increase in treated group as compare to control. In conclusion, Dill alcoholic extract act as slightly mammogenic and highly lactogenic, probably by its indirect action on mammary gland and the Dill alcoholic extract increase the quality of milk through the enhancement the extraction of some essential milk component from plasma