International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS) Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023, pp. 1586~1593 ISSN: 2252-8806, DOI: 10.11591/ijphs.v12i4.22839  1586 Journal homepage: http://ijphs.iaescore.com Herbal galactogogue supplementation on average zinc and iron levels in breast milk Rini Mustikasari Kurnia Pratama 1 , Ayu Mustika Handayani 2 , Lili Andriani 3 , Ahmad Yunus 4 , Revi Gama Hatta Novika 5 1 Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia 2 Midwifery Study Program, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Keluarga Bunda Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia 3 Pharmacy Study Program, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Harapan Ibu Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia 4 Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia 5 Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia Article Info ABSTRACT Article history: Received Dec 12, 2022 Revised Aug 15, 2023 Accepted Sep 7, 2023 The problem often encountered concerning failed exclusive breastfeeding is the insight of the mothers into little or less milk production, causing fear of being incapable to satisfy the baby’s needs. The quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. There was a control group and two intervention groups. The intervention group was given moringa leaf extract and banana flower extract for 14 days. Mother’s milk was examined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) at Labkesda (regional health laboratory) Jambi Province, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using 1-way- ANOVA. The zinc levels variable in breast milk obtained a p-value of 0.160, indicating that the zinc level in mother’s milk between the control group, moringa leaf extract, and banana flower extract did not show any meaningful difference. The iron levels variable in breast milk obtained a p-value of 0.497, indicating that the Fe levels of mother’s milk in the control group, moringa leaf extract, and banana flower extract did not show considerable distinctions. As a result, zinc and iron levels in the mother’s milk showed no prominent differentiation in the control, moringa leaf extract, as well as banana flower extract groups. Keywords: Breast milk iron levels Breast milk zinc levels Herbal galactogogue Moringa oleifera Musa paradisiacal This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license. Corresponding Author: Rini Mustikasari Kurnia Pratama Midwifery Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Bengkulu WR. Supratman Street, Kandang Limun, Muara Bangka Hulu, Sumatera, Bengkulu 38371, Indonesia Email: rini.mazin@gmail.com 1. INTRODUCTION Mother's milk is the best baby food because the texture of breast milk is easily digested, and contains complete and balanced nutrition for growth and body immunity corresponding to the needs of babies. Breast milk also plays a pivotal role in increasing emotional intelligence between mother and baby, and contains fatty acids needed for brain growth and development [1]. The results of the WHO study of 3,000 researchers conclude that the most optimal period for breastfeeding is six months, known as exclusive breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding is giving only breast milk without any other additional food for the baby, except for the administration of drugs and vitamins recommended by WHO [2]. According to Susenas, the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia, the percentage of infants younger than six months who received exclusive breastfeeding is 66.69% in 2019, 69.62% in 2020, and 71.58% in 2021. In Jambi Province, there is an increase in the percentage of breastfeeding by 64.87% in 2019, 65.22 in 2020, and 71.37 in 2021. Despite this increase, exclusive breastfeeding coverage has not yet attained the national target of 100%. Data from