The Effect of Vitex Agnus Castus Folio Extract on Serum Prolactin Consentration of Female Rats in Gastation

Vitex agnus castus is a well known plant in herbal medicine from centuries ago e.g. some people used its leaves and fruits for milk increasing. In present research the effects of V.a.c leaf extract on serum concentration of prolactin hormone has been investigated. Selective dosages of V.a.c were orally administrated to the female rats during the days of pregnancy. In the control group of rats the above procedure was applied, but distilled water was administrated instead of V.a.c extract. In order to blood sampling from each rat, at each stage (7rd and 15rd day of pregnancy) the animal was anaesthetized by inhalation of ether and the fresh blood sample was taken off from its heart and followed by the animal was sacrified. The serum was separated from each sample by centrifugation. These serums were used for measurement of prolactin hormone by RIA (Radio Immuno Assay) method. The data were analyzed by SPSS, ANOVA, MANOVA and LSD test at p<0.05. It is concluded that oral administration of 2, 10 and 70 mg/kg/day of V.a.c leaf extract in 7 day of pregnancy, significantly increased serum prolactin with compared to the control group of rats but not in 15 day. So altogether we concluded that: 1) the effect of V.a.c., is probably dependent on serum prolactin level before administration and dosage of V.a.c. extract and all of dosages had not the same effect. 2) The increase of prolactin level in seven day rats probably is the luteotrophic effect of V. a. c. leaf extract.