Photoprotection Comprising Oil Derived from Dromedary Camel Hump Fat: An Overview

Aims: Camelus dromedarius (dromedary or one-humped camels) are known to endure harsh
conditions including extreme temperatures and high solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in desert
wilderness areas. This remarkable survival in the harsh desert conditions is attributed to distinctive
bodily features enabling them to cope with this toxic environment. The present study hypothesized
that the oil rendered from camel hump fat, consisting of saturated fatty acids with omega 3, 6, 9 and
Vitamin E, has contributed to shield/protect/prevent UVA radiation damage.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad
University, Iraq, between June 2011 and July 2012.
Methodology: White BALB/c mice aged about 3 - 4 months weighing 24 - 31 gm were divided into
four groups. Mice were shaved and three groups received different treatments of daily exposure to
UVA radiation and one group was untreated as a control.
Results: Histopathological examinations of mice treated with camel oil prior to or following UVA
radiation demonstrated that the camel oil acts as a protective agent, namely, protection of mice skin
tissue from radiation-induced apoptosis. The mice treated with oil derived from cows and fat-tailed
sheep demonstrated no improvement or worse results than untreated (control) mice. The results
suggest that the camel oil protects the mice from UVA radiation injury and also acts as an injurymitigator
when applied following UVA exposure.
Conclusions: The major components in the camel hump fat including saturated fatty acids and
noticeable values of omega 3, 6, 9 and Vitamin E have contributed to shield/protect/prevent UVA
radiation damage, and may also have unique anti-tumor properties with novel dual radiationprotection
and mitigation/healing properties.