Effects of Medicinal Plants on Mammary Gland Growth in C3H/He Mice

Abstract

As a possible step toward evaluating the efficiency of medicinal plants on the improvement of productivity of farm animals, the effects of crude extracts of 13 plant products (Table 1) on mammary gland growth were examined in C3H/HeMei virgin mice. Both intact and single pituitary grafted mice given the extract of Nut-grass rhizome (5g/l tap water) between 30 and 51 days of age had significantly inhibited mammary duct growth, whereas mammary end-bud formation was enhanced by the agent in pituitary grafted mice. By contrast, the same treatment with extract of Mulberry root stimulated marked mammary duct growth in both intact and pituitary grafted mice.