Camel milk may give you young look

JAIPUR: It may not be the fabled fountain of youth, but camel milk may soon become the latest beauty secret for those who want to look young.

Researchers at the National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) in the eastern Rajasthan district of Bikaner say they have developed an anti-wrinkle cream from camel milk.

M.S. Sahani, director of the institute, said: "In our research we found that camel milk contains qualities that can be tapped for developing anti-wrinkle cream. We have not found any side effects of the cream so far, though the final phase of the trials is still to be conducted".

The cream has been tested on a number of people and researchers have found that it not only helps in controlling wrinkles but also gives a glow to the skin, Sahani told IANS.

There are six types of fatty acids found in camel milk, including lanolic acid, which is effective in controlling wrinkles as well as improving skin tone.

Researchers at the centre said they had encountered several problems in the initial phase of development of the cream like how to ensure that it was suitable for long-term use, that it had a nice fragrance and that it did not develop fungus.

"We found camel milk develops fungus in about 3 to 10 days so we decided to use certain preservatives. To make the lotion smell nice, we have used several fragrances," Sahani said.

The cream would be launched in the market only after satisfactory results were obtained from the trials, he added.

NRCC conducts basic and applied research for the improvement of the animal that is known as the "ship of the desert" and is the mainstay of the people in the state.

Over the years, NRCC has developed excellent laboratory facilities and infrastructure. Elite breeds of Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri and Kachchi camels have been developed by the institute.