Review of Literature

Today the world finds itself in the midst of a multiplicity of problems particularly in the area of health care. The situation in this sector is alarming because of the emergence of new diseases. Consequently the necessity of evolving new herbal remedies is on the ascendancy. In the present scenario, where 80% of the world population has no access to the benefits of western medicines due to financial constraints, it is quite necessary to emphasise the relevance of traditional remedies which constitute a major part of the health care system in the developing countries, and are also entering the therapeutics in the developed countries.

New efforts in the above area have been initiated globally, and the new emerging scientific discipline of ethano-pharmacology forms part of it. The use and search of such drugs derived from Gomutra and Plants has accelerated in recent years. 25 to 50 % of current pharmaceuticals are derived from plants. Traditional healers have been using plants to prevent or cure infectious disease.

Western medicine is also moving in this direction. Plants are a store house of a variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavanoids, which have demonstrated their antimicrobial properties invitro.

Similarly, cow has minerals, hormones, salts, and enzymes which exhibit antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. It increases the immunity of a person as it increases B cell and T cell blastogenesis, Serum Ig G level, Ig M, Ig A, and also enhances macrophage function level of Interleukin I and II is also increased, which finally enhances immunity[4].

Many pharmaceutical products are of plant, bacterial, fungal, or Gomutra origin. They have proved their value in curing a broad range of human infections. The available literature in this respect has been reviewed in the following pages.

The antibacterial & antifungal activity of distillate was analyzed against the clinical pathogenic microorganisms. Antibacterial activity of cow urine distillate was analyzed against the Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae & Salmonella typhi. Maximum antibacterial activity was observe in Pseudomonas aeruginosa & Salmonella typhi . Antifugal activity of cow urine distillate was analyzed against Aspergillus niger & Aspergillus flavus . When the two fungal organisms were compared maximum growth suppression was observed in Aspergillus niger than Aspergillus flavus . It was finally concluded that the inhibitory activity can be used in control of bacteria & fungi of various origin [5].

Evaluation of Antimicrobial activity of Abhraka bhasma prepared with Gomutra was compared with standard drugs like Ciprofloxacin & Clotrimazole. The microorganisms used for evaluation were Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus albus , Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Candida tropicalis & Candida albicans [6].

Binary combination of photo activated cow urine was carried out & its binary combinations were determined against seven bacterial strains. Photo activates cow urine had shown, more MIC value against Staphlococcus aureus & Bacillus cereus , Lactobacillus acidophilus & Micrococcus luteus where as MIC value against Escherichia coli was less. Binary combinations of cow urine with Neem & Bavchi Oil had shown synergistic effect as the MIC value was more or less the same [7].

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of cow urine was carried out. The antimicrobial cow urine & its distillate was tested by agar well method using microbes like Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Bacillus subtilis , Klebsiella pneumoniae & Proteus vulgaris . The cow urine and its distillate tested for antimicrobial activities exhibited the mentioned activities & comparatively fresh cow urine was found to be better than its distillate [8].

Cow urine & biodegradable & antibacterial plant extracts (Neem, Tulsi, Ritha & Pine oil) were used to prepare 100% natural disinfectant. It has a pleasant aeroma therapeutic vapour [2].

It has been studied & reported in International Journal of Cow Science (2006) that cow urine has the quality to overcome the ill effects of pesticides. It enhances the body’s defence mechanism through modulation of humoral as well as cell mediated immunity. Cow urine controls the state of immunosuppression & makes the animal immunocompetent to become refractory to disease.

It was undertaken to study invitro antibacterial potential of cow urine against various pathogenic bacteria. The activities of test urine sample preparations were comparable with that of standard Streptomycin. It was observed that gram positive organisms were more sensitive than gram negative organisms. These observations were likely to be the result of differences in cellwall structure between gram positive & gram negative bacteria [9].

The study shows molluscicidal activity of different formulations of dried cow urine of different Indian breeds. The studies showed antibacterials as well as antifungal effect of different formulation of cow urine [10].

The role of plant extracts and cow urine distillate as immuno-modulators was evaluated. The modulation of immune system is greatly affected by various medicinal plant products. Keeping this in view the importance of herbal extracts & cow urine distillate as potent immunomodulators was studied [4].

The synergistic antimicrobial effect of cow urine and Azadirachta indica against bacterial, fungal & yeast strains was studied. Bacterial strains used were Streptomyces aureofaciens , Escherichia coli , Streptococcus mutans , Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Fungal strains used were Candida albicans & yeast like Candida parapsilosis , Candida tropicalis & Candida glabrata .

When equilibrated amount of cow urine is used with Azadirachta indica remarkable synergistic effects were observed in cause of Candida tropicalis , Candida glabrata , Pseudomonas aeruginosa & Streptococcus aureofacies [11].

Cow urine is shown in the study as a bioenhancer. Cow urine distillate is more effective as a bioenhancer than cow urine & increases the effectiveness of antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer drugs. It increases the activity of gonadotropin releasing hormone conjugate with bovine serum albumin & zinc [12].

Cow urine has bio enhancing activity for Rifampicin, the front line anti tubercular drug used against tuberculosis, increasing its action upto seven fold against Escherichia coli , and upto eleven fold against Gram positive bacteria. Cow urine distillate enhances the transport of antibiotics eg. Rifampicin, Tetracycline & Ampicillin, across the gut wall as well as across artificial membranes – transport enhancement varies from two fold to seven fold.

The anti genotoxic antioxidant properties of cow’s urine distillate & redis Type equation here.tillate were studied in vitro. The antioxidant status & volatile fatty acid levels were determined. Actinomycine – D (0.1 µ mol/l) and Hydrogen peroxide (150 µ mol/l) were used for including DNA strand break with 0.1% DMSO as negative control. Dose for the antigenotoxic effect of cow’s urine was chosen from the dose response study carried out earlier [13].

In this antiviral study albino rats weighing 200 – 250 gm of either sex were used for the study. The animals were maintained under standard lab conditions (light period of 12hr/day & temperature 27 +2°C) with access to water & libitum. The animals were used in groups of 6 for all the studies & haemagglutination reaction was studied in their blood after inoculation of Gomutra ark after 12 – 15 days. Haemagglutination reaction was positive if clumping occurs & the highest dilution was taken as the antibody titre [14].

The anticarcinogenic activity of cow urine was evaluated using two stage in Swisss albino mice, induced by a single application of 7, 12-dimethylbenza(a) anthracene and one week later promoted by repeated application of croton oil (thrice a week) till the end of the experiment (16 weeks). The tumour incidence, tumour yield, tumor burdon and cumulative number of papilliomas were found to be higher in the control, (without cow urine treatment) as compared to experimental animals (cow urine treated). The difference in the value of the results of experimental groups were statistically analysed and found to be significant in comparison to the control group.(p<0.05) The study demonstrates the chemo preventive potential of cow urine on DMBA induced skin tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice [15].

Anticlastogenic effect of redistilled cow urine distillate (RCUD) in human peripheral lymphocytes was (HLC) challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium. The study was carried out in vitro. Genetoxicants and Clastogenes caused induction of DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus. Three different levels of RCUD 1 microL/ml, 50 microL/ml and 100 microL/ml were used in study.

Manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium caused statistically significant DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation were protected by redistilled cow’s urine distillate [16].

Clinical studies of 30 patients fulfilling the criteria for inclusion were divided into two groups comprising of 15 patients each. In one group Gomutra arka administered in the dosage, whereas in other group, Placebo is being administered. All the patients were followed up for a period of 1 month for assessing the improvement. In the clinical study Group A ( Gomutra arka ), there were no samples which act complete remission, 27% sample showed marked improvement, 66% showed moderate improvement and 07% showed mild improvement [17].

The carbon tetrachloride induced hepato protective activity in cow urine was studied. Effect of cow urine distilled on liver function was studied in vivo in rats intoxicated with carbontetrachloride. Hepato toxicity was induced by 1:1 mixture of carbon tetrachloride in olive oil. Protective effect of cow urine distillate ( in three doses ) and standard drug Silyamarin on liver function were studied in intoxicated rats. The cow urine distillate decreased the level of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, GGT and total bilirubin in dose dependent manner ( p ˂ 0.05) [18].

Evaluation of cow urine on patient in 8 days camp in Mandsaur district was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of cow urine therapy on various cancer patients who were reported across different state of . It was found out that patients who were receiving cow urine therapy since 2-3 months were most benefited [19].

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the methanol extracts of root, stem and leaves of the plant Calendula officinalis was carried out against different bacterial strains and phytochemical analysis was performed. Their evaluated results showed that the medicinal plants play very important role in commercializing the highly valuable medicinal plants for its effective results and antimicrobial functions [20].

Pharmacological and phytochemical evaluation of plant Dhattura before and after . It is a procedure by which both physical and chemical impurities are removed from the drug and thus enhancing the potency and efficacy of the drug. Many of the drugs contain various organic and inorganic impurities. Organic impurities include plant materials, animal materials and synthetic materials. Inorganic materials include stone sand and unwanted minerals. This study is carried out to ascertain the changes in the chemical constituents of Dhattura beeja before and after purification procedures under different media viz. Gomutra and Goksheera and its toxicity effect on rats [21].

Cow urine and its distillate also possesses bio enhancing ability. The study was carried out to investigate the bio enhancing role of cow urine distillate (CUD) on antibacterial activity of methanolic extract of Capsicum frutescenes. Antibacterial activity of methanol extract alone and in combination with CUD was determined against microorganisms by agar well diffusion method. Methanol extract had shown more effect on microorganisms. CUD did not show any inhibition of test bacteria. The antibacterial effect of combination of extract and CUD was higher than the inhibition caused by extract alone and is suggestive of bio enhancing role of cow urine distillate [22].

Antifungal activities of medicinal plant extracts against clinical isolates were determined against Candida neoformans and Candida albicans by using broth dilution method [23].

The volatile oils of different plants like pepper, nutmeg, etc were accessed for antibacterial activity against twenty-five different genera of bacteria. These include animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria. The volatile oils exhibit considerable inhibitory effects against all organisms under test, while their major components demonstrated various degrees of growth inhibition [24].

Four medicinal plants that are traditionally used in the Eastern cape region for treating burn wound infections were collected for investigation and invitro antibacterial activity was carried out against eight different bacteria [25].