effect of the aqueous extract of peganum harmala seeds on the mammary glands of virgin, pregnant, and lactating rats

ABSTRACT

Penganum harmala is a well known herb that is used by different societies. It is used as a medical herb in treating various diseases and disorders .There was no earlier published work on the effects of the aqueous extract of Penganum harmala. Therefore, we designed this study to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Penganum harmala seeds on the mammary gland at the various physiological states [virgin, pregnancy and lactation] making use of the available histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical means. Aqueous extract of Penganum harmala was given for two weeks by an orogastric tube on single regular daily dosage to Norway albino female rats. Animals were subdivided into subgroups according to their physiological states. Mammary glands of these animals were routinely processed for histological, immunohistochemical and histochemical studies using formalin fixative, paraffin embedded sections in the first two studies and formal calcium, frozen sections in the third study. Experimental specimens were compared with that of control subgroups. Harmal induced mammogenesis in the mammary glands of virgin rats. It's aqueous extract was able to initiate lactogenesis in a well-prepared mammary gland [i. e. during pregnancy] and finally this aqueous extract promotes lactogenesis when administrated during lactation. Penganum harmala is a mmammogenic herb