Immunomodulatory properties of indigenous cow urine

Outside the India, there is no research work reported in literature as far as the cow pathy or medicinal properties of cow urine are concerned. However, there is a US patent issued to inventors Khanuja and his associates vide no. 6410059 dated 25.6.2002 on a pharmaceutical composition comprising of an antibiotic and cow urine distillate in an amount effective to enhance antimicrobial effect of antibiotics. In India, the ancient literature including Ayurveda has description on Panchgavya therapy that includes cow urine, milk, curd, ghee and dung. The Panchgavya therapy though an age old system of medicine is not given due importance in modern science. However, there are scanty reports of therapeutic use of cow urine or other Panchgavya materials to cure human and animal ailments. Immunomodulatory properties of cow urine distillate in mice recorded an increase in humoral and cellular immunity of 45% and 59%, respectively.1‒4 The parameters used to assess immunity were B-lymphocyte blastogenesis, T-lymphocyte blastogenesis, serum IgG and IgM levels. The cow urine also stimulated the production of interleukin 1 and 2 by 16% and 21%, respectively, from peripheral blood leucocytes of mice. The phagocytic activity of macrophages was enhanced by 104% in mice treated with cow urine in comparison to controls. Lymphocytes proliferation in response to mitogen in the developing chick embryo increased with the use of cow urine. This means that immune system developed at an early stage and embryonic mortality can be decreased with the use of cow urine. Urine of red hill cow, found in Uttarakhand state and characterized as Badri cow has been found to be most potent immunostimulator. It was observed that urine of cross bred, exotic cow and a buffalo has no immunomodulatory effect. Cow urine given to the poultry birds in water as an alternative to antibiotics demonstrated excellent immunomodulatory properties in addition to the increase in the egg production and egg quality of the layer birds. In another important study effect of cow urine on the lymphocytes damaged by pesticides was observed. It was found that cow urine decreases the apoptosis caused by the heavy metals in avian lymphocytes. Thus, corroborating to some extent with the findings that cow urine help in repair of broken DNA. The antioxidant properties of cow urine distillate include protection or DNA and its repairs. The cow urine distillate protected the chromosomal aberrations caused by mitomycin-C in human leukocyte culture. Similarly, cow urine was found to be a very good antioxidant. Cow urine has a high antioxidant status as indicated by its ability to destroy the free radicals.