Chemistry of a Nigerian Herbal Preparation (Cow's Urine Concoction)I

Cow's urine concoction (CUC)is the leading cause of acute poisoning among children in Western Nigeria (Onadeko and Adetuyibi, 1979). The preparation is a traditional remedy for childhood seizure disorders among the Yoruba-speaking people of Nigeria. Although its composition varies (Atalabi, 1964), CUC usually contains tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum), basil leaves (Ocimum viride), kaun (trona), lemon juice (Citrus medico), garlic leaves (Allium sativum)and onions (Allium cepa and Allium ascabricum), all soaked for varying lengths of time (weeks to several months)in the urine, of either male or female Fulani cattle (Bos mutwu, B. ndama, B. keteku). A convulsing child is forced to swallow some (there is no standard dosage), and some is also rubbed on the patient's body. The clinical features of CUC poisoning have been documented by Voorhoeve and Smith (1966)and Oyebola and Elegbe (1975). These features, verified in experimental animals, include the following: central nervous system (CNS)excitation, followed by depression (Oyebola and Elegbe, 1975), hypoglycemia (Ojewole and Olusi, 1975), respiratory depression (Elegbe and Oyebola, 1977)and various effects on the cardiovascular system (Elegbe and Oyebola, 1977; Adekile, unpublished results). Chemical analysis of CUC has not been reported. Nicotine, an alkaloidal constituent of tobacco leaves, had been presumed to be the only toxic principle in CUC. However, Oyebola and Elegbe (1975)and Acknowledgement We thank Pa Elewude, consultant herbalist to the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ife, Nigeria for preparing the traditional sample of CUC. We also thank Professor James W. Wheeler and the Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washington, D.C, for encouragement and provision of funds and facilities which made this work possible. This work was done while Dr. Adekile was on a fellowship at Howard, supported by the University of Ife Teaching Hospital's Complex. Adekile (unpublished results)have shown that CUC poisoning is not synonymous with nicotine poisoning. The present communication reports the preliminary results of the chemical analysis of a laboratory preparation and a traditional sample of CUC.