Mon Jan 20 18:48:04 UTC 2025: ## IIT Madras Director Defends Claims on Cow Urine’s Medicinal Properties
**Chennai, January 21, 2025** – V. Kamakoti, director of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), defended his claims regarding the medicinal properties of cow urine on Monday, citing five peer-reviewed research papers published on the subject. His initial comments, made at a goshala (cow shelter) on January 15th, had sparked controversy and viral ridicule online.
Kamakoti stated that the research, including a 2021 paper published in Nature, validates the antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of cow urine. He listed several other papers supporting his claims, published in journals such as the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and the International Journal of Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Research. He also referenced a 2005 US patent on the use of bioactive components from cow urine distillate.
While acknowledging social media criticism and the existence of research suggesting harmful effects of cow urine, Kamakoti maintained that he had not seen these studies. He suggested that the renewed interest in the topic presents an opportunity for further research by Indian systems of medicine researchers, although he emphasized that IIT Madras would not mandate such research. He confirmed having consumed panchakavyam, a traditional concoction including cow urine, on occasion. The director clarified that his initial speech at the goshala covered various topics related to science and cows, including natural farming and gobar gas.
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