Preliminary Study on Polyherbal Formulation as a Postpartum Health Intervention: Insights into Wound Healing, Inflammation Modulation, and Lactation Support

Abstract

The time after conceptus birth when the mother's physiological and anatomical alterations revert to their pre-pregnancy state, is known as the postpartum period. Topical medications and antimicrobials can reduce the risk of infection during the healing process. Antibiotics have been less and less effective in recent years due to the emergence of resistant bacteria. Medicinal plants have long been integral to traditional healthcare systems, especially in developing countries where plant-derived remedies remain widely utilised. This study explores the formulation and evaluation of a poly-herbal powder composed of 21 medicinal herbs aimed at enhancing postpartum health by reducing inflammation and improving lactation. Soxhlet extraction using methanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate was employed to obtain phytochemical-rich extracts, which were analysed through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracts were further evaluated for their antioxidant activity via DPPH assay and anti-inflammatory potential through protein denaturation assays. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In silico ADME analysis and molecular docking studies against six postpartum-related proteins revealed strong binding affinities and favourable pharmacokinetic profiles for several ligands. The GC-MS analysis of the poly-herbal extracts obtained using methanol, hexane, and ethyl acetate solvents revealed 143 distinct profiles of bioactive compounds. The anti-inflammatory activity of polyherbal powder extract was assessed with measurements taken at 600 nm. Overall, methanol proved to be the most effective solvent for extracting anti-inflammatory compounds, followed by ethyl acetate and then hexane. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the poly-herbal formulation and support further pre-clinical investigations for its application in postpartum care.