Therapeutic and Overdose Effects of Camel Urine in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Camel urine is used in northern Nigeria as a therapeutic option for treatment of various human illnesses. Local traditional medical practitioners prescribe therapeutic dosages for the use of camel urine; however, such dosages are arbitrarily given and not based on research findings. A subacute oral toxicity study of camel urine was conducted in male Wistar rats. Thirty (30) healthy male Wistar rats were grouped into three (10 rats/group) and administered camel urine orally for two weeks. Group 1 (control) was administered distilled water orally at 2ml/kg body weight. Group 2 and 3 were administered camel urine at Human Therapeutic Dose Equivalent (TD) and Twice the Human Therapeutic Dose Equivalent (2TD), respectively. Food and water consumption, body weight, serum biochemical indices, serum electrolytes, haematological indices, and organ histological changes were determined. The results indicated a significant decrease in leucocyte count, platelet count, and levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, glucose, urea, sodium, and chloride in the 2TD group. Both the TD and 2TD groups exhibited a decrease in food consumption and blood total bilirubin concentrations compared to the control group. However, no histopathological changes were observed in any of the organs (liver, kidney, heart, lungs, spleen, intestine, stomach and testis) examined. The, oral administration of camel urine at twice the therapeutic dose (2TD) resulted in a decrease in food consumption and platelet count, and it may also suppress the immune system by reducing  the leucocyte  count in rats.