Effects of aqueous extract of unripe papaya (Carica papaya L.) on mice milk production

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Breast milk is the best food to meet the nutritional needs of infants. According to the Indonesia Health Survey in 2005, 4–12% of babies in urban areas were exclusively breastfed and 4–5% of babies in rural areas were exclusively breastfed. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of aqueous extract of unripe papaya on milk production by measuring the weight gain and growth of baby mice. An experimental study was conducted with 21 lactating mice divided randomly into three treatment groups with 10 babies each. The first group served as a negative control; it was started at lactation days 4–16. The result was analyzed using ANOVA and followed by a Tukey test with a 95% level of confidence. The baby mice’s weight gains in groups I, II, and III were 1.25 ± 0.62 g/6 hours, 2.25 ± 0.29 g/6 hours, and 2.21 ± 0.28 g/6 hours, respectively. The research showed that aqueous extract of unripe papaya has a better effect than the negative control and has an equivalent effect in improving weight gain and growth of baby mice given luteotropin.