Sains Malaysiana 49(7)(2020): 1719-1727

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4907-22

Nigella sativa as a Galactagogue: A Systematic Review

(Nigella sativa sebagai Penggalak Susu: Suatu Ulasan Sistematik)

AINI FARZANA ZULKEFLI, RUSZYMAH BT HJ IDRUS & ADILA A HAMID*

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 25 September 2019/Accepted: 23 March 2020

ABSTRACT

Nigella sativa is a herb with various pharmacological properties and has been used widely for medicinal purposes and acts as a milk booster. The aim of this systematic review was to provide information on the galactagogue property of N. sativa. Electronic searches were conducted in two databases, namely, Medline via EBSCOhost and Scopus, for relevant studies published between the 1865 and March 2020. Additional records identified through Google Scholar showed one eligible article. Only articles published in English and related to the galactagogue effect of N. sativa were included in this review. A total of 110 potential articles were identified, but only four fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four animal studies were included in this review. All of the selected studies reported positive galactagogue effects of N. sativa as determined by serum prolactin level, breast tissue changes, milk production and composition, and weight of litter, thereby suggesting its effect as milk booster. However, the review found no evidence supporting the effect of N. sativa as a galactagogue in humans.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; galactagogue; milk production; Nigella sativa

ABSTRAK

Nigella sativa merupakan sejenis herba yang mempunyai pelbagai ciri farmakologi dan telah digunakan secara meluas bagi tujuan perubatan dan juga sebagai penggalak susu. Ulasan sistematik ini menyediakan maklumat mengenai aktiviti N. sativa sebagai penggalak susu dengan mengenal pasti penerbitan yang berkaitan dengannya. Pencarian artikel secara elektronik dilakukan dengan menggunakan dua pangkalan data iaitu Medline melalui EBSCOhost dan Scopus dan artikel yang relevan antara tahun 1865 dan Mac 2020 dikenal pasti. Rekod tambahan telah dikenal pasti melalui Google Scholar iaitu sebanyak satu artikel. Sejumlah 110 artikel yang berpotensi dikenal pasti dan hanya empat artikel menepati kriteria yang ditetapkan. Empat kajian haiwan dimasukkan di dalam ulasan ini. Kesemua kajian menunjukkan kesan positif penggalak susu oleh N. sativa melalui penentuan aras prolaktin dalam serum, perubahan tisu payudara, penghasilan dan komposisi susu dan berat anak haiwan yang disusui. Hasil kajian seterusnya mencadangkan N. sativa sebagai agen penggalak susu. Namun begitu, ulasan sistematik ini mendapati tiada bukti yang menyokong kesan N. sativa sebagai penggalak susu pada manusia.

Kata kunci: Nigella sativa; penghasilan susu; penggalak susu; penyusuan

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*Corresponding author; email: adilahamid@gmail.com