The Development of Lactation Supplement Using Torbangun, Moringa, Soybean, and Sunflower Lecithin and The Phytochemical Screening

Abstract

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in an infant's optimal growth and development. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends infants exclusively breastfeed for the first six months. However, in reality, the number of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia remains lower than the government has expected. One of the main reasons for this unsatisfied number is the inadequate breast milk supply. The herbal galactagogue can become an alternative solution to improve breast milk volume to address this problem. In this study, a lactation supplement was designed and developed using herbal galactagogue. The lactation supplement uses moringa, torbangun, soybean, and sunflower lecithin as the main ingredients. To predict the effectiveness, the qualitative phytochemical analysis covering flavonoid, phytosterol, and alkaloid were conducted as they are highly correlated with galactagogue properties. The results showed that all of the phytochemical compounds tested were present in the supplementation. In further product development, studies on the effect of supplementation on prolactin levels, breast milk volume, infant weight, and sleep duration, as well as quantitative phytochemical analysis are recommended.