Phytochemical Profiling, Toxicological Studies and Effects of Combretum racemosum on Postpartum Lactating Female Albino Wistar Rats

Combretum racemosum leaves are used in ethnomedicine to treat haemorrhoids, toothache, to promote lactation and weight loss after childbirth. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and effects of ethanol leaf extract of Combretum racemosum (ELECR) on postpartum female rats to determine whether it promotes postpartum weight loss and increases milk production. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyse the phytochemical composition. Rats were divided into five groups: Group I (normal control: rats not treated with ELECR and not lactating), Group II (negative control: rats not treated with ELECR but lactating), while groups III-V received oral doses of ELECR at 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg body weight, respectively, once daily for 14 days. After ELECR treatment, rats were sacrificed on the 15th day after overnight fasting and blood collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical and hormonal analysis (oestrogen, progesterone, prolactin and follicle stimulating hormone). GC-MS analysis revealed bioactive compounds. The ELECR-treated groups significantly reduced (p<0.05) body weight, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and malondialdehyde, while the levels of glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, oestrogen, follicle stimulating  hormone,  red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin increased significantly compared to the negative control (p<0.05). This study revealed that ELECR is not toxic but increased hormone levels that promote lactation. It also showed that ELECR has hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering effects which justifies its use in folkore medicine as a tonic for postpartum weight loss with galactagogue effects.