PROTECTIVE ROLE OF PUNGANUR COW URINE ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS

Abstract

Punganur Cattle is the world's smallest Bos indicus cattle originated in Punganur town in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This breed is known for its short stature, high milk production efficiency and efficient reproductive characters. In Ancient Ayurvedic scriptures such as Charaka samhita, Shushruta samhita and Brahad-Wagbhatt mention various medicinal properties of cow urine. It is used as an insecticide and in disorders like intestinal gas, acidity and cough. Although Indian Ayurvedic literature cites many medicinal properties of cow urine, there is no scientific evidence to support this. Hence, the present study was aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of cow urine was undertaken. The effect of a distillate of cow urine was studied in vivo in rats given streptozotocin. Diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (50 mg / kg body wt., i.p). The antidiabetic effect of three different doses and a standard drug, Glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg, p.o), was studied in diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose levels, serum lipid profiles, liver glycogen levels and initial and final changes in body weight were assessed. The cow urine distillate produced a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of the elevated blood glucose, serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides levels when compared with the diabetic control. The diabetic animals treated with cow urine distillate also showed a significant increase in HDL levels and a gain in body weight when compared with the diabetic control. Earlier studies have revealed the presence of antioxidants and free radical scavengers in cow urine which might be responsible for anti- diabetic effects. The present communication records the first ever report on protective role of cow urine on diabetic in a bizarre situation of tropical climate of Andhra Pradesh (AP), India. ©2013 IRJP.