Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Trivial number of books, concerning traditional medicine, had mentioned a galactagogual role of Garden cress seeds. Others ignore that. This controversy, in addition to the steroid (family of sex hormones) contents of the seeds, directed us to evaluate the role of this herb in mammogenesis and lactogenesis. METHODS: Twelve parameters were used to assess the effect of Garden cress seeds on the mammary gland of young adult virgin rats. These parameters comprise gross assessment, histological examination (routine/ haematoxylin and eosin stain and special stain/ PAS), enzymatic histochemical study (alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and lipoprotein lipase cytochemical localization), biochemical estimations (hormonal assay of FSH, LH, prolactin, estrogen and progesterone) and morphometrical measurements. RESULTS: All parameters significantly exhibited a strong mammotrophic and lactogenic effects of Garden cress seeds on the non-primed mammary gland of adult virgin rat. CONCLUSION: Garden cress seeds are most probably a real galactagogue and might be useful in induction of lactation