unique medicinal properties of camel products: a review of the scientific evidence

Camel milk and urine have been used as medicines in certain parts of Asia and Africa since ancient times, but only recently have scientists shown interest in exploring the claimed therapeutic benefits of camel products. Significant evidence, drawn from laboratory and limited clinical studies, has shown that camel milk on its own and occasionally mixed with camel urine is effective in the management of diverse clinical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, food allergy, autism, viral hepatitis and a host of other viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. In addition, a number of potential benefits of camel milk and urine on the cardiovascular system, particularly their antiplatelet and fibrinolytic actions, have been demonstrated. The current review presents a concise summary of the scientific evidence to support these therapeutic actions

Characterization of inhibitory activity of camel urine on human platelet function

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that both camel plasma and urine display inhibitory action on human platelet function. This study aimed to determine whether the platelet-inhibiting activity in camel plasma is filtered into urine or if this activity is initiated by the kidney and to evaluate the impact of the camel's reproductive status on this inhibitory activity

Methods: The study included 67 non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating female camels. Platelet function was tested in the camels by light transmission aggregometry and platelet function analyser [PFA-100[registered]] studies

Results: In comparison to the results in human beings, camel platelet aggregation responses to both adenosine diphosphate [ADP] and arachidonic acid [AA] agonists showed a significant reduction. Furthermore, human platelet aggregation responses were significantly inhibited by camel urine. Some camels displayed inhibitory activity in both plasma and urine, while others displayed this activity in either blood or urine. In camel categories with markedly inhibited platelet aggregation responses, urine caused marked inhibition of human platelets. In camels with antiplatelet urine effects, camel platelet inhibition was also confirmed by prolongation of platelet function analyser 100 [PFA-100[registered]] closure times in all categories. Lactating camels showed stronger urine inhibitory activity compared to other groups

Conclusions: These findings suggest that an inhibitory factor could be filtered from camel plasma; however, a renal source cannot be excluded. Lactating camels seem to possess more potent urine inhibitory activity compared to other camel groups. These findings support the fact that the claimed beneficial therapeutic properties of camel urine originate in part from the kidney and could be filtered from plasma