**4. Medicinal plants used as galactagogues**

#### **4.1 Amaryllidaceae**

#### *4.1.1 Allium sativum* L*.*

*A. sativum* (garlic) is a perennial herb cultivated in various parts of the world and widely used as a food ingredient [13, 14]. Garlic has been used as a spice, food, and medicine for over 5000 years, and is one of the earliest documented herbs utilized for the maintenance of health and treatment of disease [15]. Garlic has many medicinal properties including, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidants [13, 14]. Garlic has traditionally been used to strengthen the immune system and gastrointestinal health. Today, this intriguing herb is probably the most widely researched medicinal plant [15]. Garlic is given for nutritional purposes to enhance gestation and lactation [16]. In a study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of naturally prepared galactagogue mixtures containing garlic on breast milk production and prolactin levels in postnatal mothers, it was observed that the galactagogue mix increased prolactin production, confirming the folkloric use of garlic as a galactagogue [17]. Garlic is also known to impart odor and flavor to breast milk when consumed and infants tend to breast-feed longer on such milk [18].

 Chemical constituents isolated from *A. sativum* were diallyl trisulfide (50.43%), diallyl disulfide (25.30%), diallyl sulfide (6.25%), diallyl tetrasulfide (4.03%), 1,2-dithiolane (3.12%), allyl methyl disulfide (3.07%), 1,3-dithiane (2.12%), and allyl methyl trisulfide (2.08%) [19]. The essential oil of *A. sativum* possessed contact toxicity against overwintering *C. chinensis* [19].

#### **4.2 Annonaceae**

#### *4.2.1 Xylopia aethiopica A. rich*

*X. aethiopica* is an evergreen tree with many-branched and narrow crown; it can grow from 15 to 30 m high. It is planted for medicinal purposes, as a shade tree and as an ornamental. The fruits are used as a tonic to improve women fertility and to aid delivery. Various parts of this plant are used across Ghana and Nigeria for various medicinal purposes. Powdered samples are taken or applied directly for use. The fruits also serve as a condiment, an emmenagogue, anthelmintic, antitussive, carminative and rubefacient. Xylopia is used generally for pain and in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, headache, neuralgia and colic pain [20, 21]. The seeds are ground and used as a galactagogue, emetic, rubefacient, stimulant and vermifuge [22]. The seeds are crushed and applied on the forehead for treating headache and neuralgia and its extract for round worm infestation and as a treatment for biliousness. Decoction of leaves serves as an emetic and is used against rheumatism. The powdered leaves are rubbed on the chest for treating bronchio-pneumonia and taken as snuff for treating headaches. Roots are powdered and applied to sores and also to treat cancer. Lactating mothers take the ground seed to increase milk flow. Fruits are particularly high in zinc content, perhaps the reason behind its consumption during lactation. The fruit contains xylopic acid,

volatile oils, fixed oils, rutin and zinc. Compounds isolated from *X. aethiopica*  include Lupeol, 16α-hydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid, 3, 4′, 5-trihydroxy-6,6″ dimethylpyrano[2,3-g]flavone, 3-O-β-sitosterol β-D-glucopyranoside, isotetrandrine and trans-tiliroside [22–24].
