The Effect of Katuk Leaf Decoction on Breast Milk Production Among Postpartum Mothers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53770/medica.v8i4.1006Keywords:
Sauropus androgynus, Galactagogue, Breast Milk Production, Postpartum MotherAbstract
Insufficient breast milk production remains a major barrier to achieving exclusive breastfeeding at both global and national levels. In Indonesia, exclusive breastfeeding coverage declined from 88.9% in 2021 to 82.2% in 2023. The use of plant-based herbal galactagogues, particularly Sauropus androgynus (katuk leaves), is widely practiced; however, comparative evidence against active interventions such as lactation education remains limited. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of katuk leaf decoction and breastfeeding technique education in increasing breast milk production among postpartum mothers. A quantitative study with a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was conducted involving 32 postpartum mothers selected through purposive sampling from a population of 66, comprising 16 respondents in the intervention group (katuk leaf decoction 150 ml/day for 7 days) and 16 respondents in the control group (breastfeeding technique education). Breast milk production was assessed using a structured observation sheet based on four proxy indicators. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for within-group comparisons and the Mann–Whitney test for between-group comparisons. The results showed that breast milk production scores increased in both groups, with a higher mean increase observed in the intervention group (from 4.44 to 6.56; Δ=2.12) compared with the control group (from 4.19 to 5.94; Δ=1.75). Within-group analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in both groups (p=0.001), and between-group comparison revealed a statistically significant difference in score changes (p<0.05). In conclusion, katuk leaf decoction demonstrated a greater increase in breast milk production compared with breastfeeding technique education; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to methodological limitations, and further studies using more rigorous designs are recommended.
References
Amanda, D., Junita, F., & Nisa, H. (2023). Efektivitas Konsumsi Daun Katuk Terhadap Produksi ASI pada Ibu Nifas [Effectiveness of Katuk Leaf Consumption on Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers]. Jurnal Pustaka Medika (Pusat Akses Kajian Medis dan Kesehatan Masyarakat), 2(2), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.55382/jurnalpustakamedika.v2i2.566
Anggraini, N. D., Budhiharto, G. P., Nurkholis, A. P., Fitri, R., & Herbawani, C. K. (2026). Determinants of Low Exclusive Breastfeeding Coverage in Indonesia. Healthy Tadulako Journal (Jurnal Kesehatan Tadulako), 12(1), 121-129. https://doi.org/10.22487/htj.v12i1.1941
Anju, T., Rai, N. K. S., & Kumar, A. (2022). Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.: a multipurpose plant with multiple uses in traditional ethnic culinary and ethnomedicinal preparations. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 9(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-022-00125-8
Bazzano, A. N., Hofer, R., Thibeau, S., Gillispie, V., Jacobs, M., & Theall, K. P. (2016). A review of herbal and pharmaceutical galactagogues for breast-feeding. Ochsner Journal, 16(4), 511-524. Retrieved from https://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/16/4/511.short
Brodribb, W., & Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. (2018). ABM Clinical Protocol# 9: Use of galactogogues in initiating or augmenting maternal milk production, second revision 2018. Breastfeeding Medicine, 13(5), 307-314. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2018.29092.wjb
Cristóbal-Cañadas, D., Parrón-Carrillo, R., & Parrón-Carreño, T. (2025). Exosomes in Breast Milk: Their Impact on the Intestinal Microbiota of the Newborn and Therapeutic Perspectives for High-Risk Neonates. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(7), 3421. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073421
Dolang, M. W., Wattimena, F. P., Kiriwenno, E., Cahyawati, S., & Sillehu, S. (2021). Pengaruh pemberian rebusan daun katuk terhadap produksi asi pada ibu nifas. JUMANTIK (Jurnal Ilmiah Penelitian Kesehatan), 6(3), 256-261. https://doi.org/10.30829/jumantik.v6i3.9570
Foong, S. C., Tan, M. L., Foong, W. C., Marasco, L. A., Ho, J. J., & Ong, J. H. (2020). Oral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non‐hospitalised term infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 5, CD011505. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011505.pub2
Fujianty, M., Dewi, M. K., & Sulaeman, E. (2024). Hubungan Breastfeeding Self Efficacy, Manajemen Laktasi dan Dukungan Keluarga Terhadap Keberhasilan Pemberian Asi Eksklusif di TPMB Winda Winarti Kabupaten Garut Tahun 2024. Innovative: Journal Of Social Science Research, 4(5), 4120-4130. Retrieved from http://j-innovative.org/index.php/Innovative/article/view/15431
Kariyawasam, K. P., Somaratne, G., Dillimuni, S. D., & Walallawita, U. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Breastfeeding and Infant Formulas: Short‐and Long‐Term Impacts on Infant Nutrition and Health. Food Science & Nutrition, 13(9), e70788. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70788
Kim, J., Oh, S., Avila, R., Shin, H. S., Banet, M., Wicks, J., ... & Rogers, J. A. (2025). A compact, wireless system for continuous monitoring of breast milk expressed during breastfeeding. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 9(10), 1645-1655. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01393-w
Khusniyati, E., & Purwati, H. (2024). Analisis Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kelancaran Produksi ASI pada Ibu Menyusui [Analysis of Factors Affecting Smooth Breast Milk Production in Breastfeeding Mothers]. Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 13(1), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.32831/jik.v13i1.680
Lestari, A. D., Purwati, A., & Purwanti, A. S. (2024). Pengaruh Pemberian Ekstrak Daun Katuk (Sauropus Androgynus) terhadap Kelancaran Produksi Asi pada Ibu Menyusui di Posyandu 4 Desa Wandanpuro [The Effect of Katuk Leaf Extract (Sauropus Androgynus) on Smooth Breast Milk Production in Breastfeeding Mothers at Posyandu 4 Wandanpuro Village]. Jurnal Locus Penelitian dan Pengabdian, 3(4), 365-374. https://doi.org/10.58344/locus.v3i4.2549
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2022). Following Two Years of Low Immunisation Coverage, the Government Launches National Child Immunisation Month. Jakarta: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.
Natal, A. C. D. C., de Paula Menezes, R., & de Brito Röder, D. V. D. (2025). Role of maternal milk in providing a healthy intestinal microbiome for the preterm neonate. Pediatric Research, 97(7), 2235-2242. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03751-x
Pebrianthy, L., Saragih, S., & Partum, I. P. (2023). Pengaruh Pemberian Rebusan Daun Katuk (Sauropus Androgynus) Terhadap Produksi Asi Pada Ibu Post Partum [The Effect of Katuk Leaf (Sauropus Androgynus) Decoction on Breast Milk Production in Postpartum Mothers]. Jurnal Kesehatan Ilmiah Indonesia (Indonesian Health Scientific Journal), 8(1), 149–154.
Puspasari, J., Fitria, D., & Rahmawati, V. Y. (2024). Self-efficacy pada Ibu Postpartum dalam Keberhasilan Pemberian ASI Eksklusif: Scoping Review. Jurnal Keperawatan Cikini, 5(2), 192-204. https://doi.org/10.55644/jkc.v6i02.179
Ramdhania, D., & Simamora, E. (2025). Dukungan suami terhadap breastfeeding self-efficacy ibu dalam pemberian ASI eksklusif. Holistik Jurnal Kesehatan, 19(3), 527-536. https://doi.org/10.33024/hjk.v19i3.876
Tahoangako, S. S., Santosa, D., & Fakhrudin, N. (2024). Study of the utilization of medicinal plants by traditional healer of the Tolaki Ethnic Tribe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28, 1-17. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5543
Tanduba, C., Lin, P. Y. P., Ping, N. P. T., Sulaiman, M., Rusdi, N. A., Selaan, J. S. S., ... & Wiart, C. (2025). Medicinal Plants of Sabah (East Malaysia) for Women’s Health. Philippine Journal of Science, 154(6A), 1425-1441.
Victora, C. G., Bahl, R., Barros, A. J. D., França, G. V. A., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., Murch, S., Sankar, M. J., Walker, N., & Rollins, N. C. (2021). Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet (London, England), 387(10017), 475–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7
Wang, N., Ma, M., Mu, G., Qian, F., & Xuemei, Z. (2025). Lipid analysis of breast milk and formula for preterm infants and the application and prospects of novel structural lipids–a comprehensive review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 65(21), 4115-4128. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2383964
Zhang, B. D., Cheng, J. X., Zhang, C. F., Bai, Y. D., Liu, W. Y., Li, W., ... & Zhang, J. (2020). Sauropus androgynus L. Merr.-A phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological review. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 257, 112778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112778
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 MEDICA (International Medical Scientific Journal)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
