New Delhi: A US patent has been granted to Indian scientists on the use of cow urine distillate as bio-enhancer, Minister of Science and Technology Murli Manohar Joshi announced on July 3.

"A combination of Indian traditional wisdom and modern science has led to a unique US patent number 6,410,059 that was granted to Indian scientists on June 25, 2002," an excited Joshi said in a special function.

The patent has been granted for a pharmaceutical composition containing an antibiotic and cow urine distillate in an amount effective to enhance the anti- microbial effects of antibiotic and anti-fungal agents.

The invention relates to an absolutely novel use of cow urine as activity enhancer and availability facilitator for bioactive molecules including anti-infective and anti-cancer agents.

"The present invention has direct implication in drastically reducing the dosage of antibiotics, drugs and anti-cancer agent while increasing the efficiency of absorption of bio-active molecules, thereby reducing the cost of treatment and also the side-effects due to toxicity," Joshi said.

The use of cow urine is known for a long time in India. 'Go-mutra' (cow's urine) has been described as a substance with innumerate therapeutic values in 'Sushrita Samhita' and 'Ashtanga Sangraha'. However, the biological activity of cow's urine was not tested scientifically, he said.

PTI