The natural world contains a huge number of untapped remedies. The latest discovery is from researchers in the USA. They believe their research into how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human illnesses. The scientists analysed tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to get rid of waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid. This is a by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. It can be harmful. Too much nitrogen can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush uric acid waste away when we pass water.

The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined waste elimination processes of over 20 reptile species. The team focused its attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised. A researcher said the team's findings could help us understand and treat uric acid-related problems like kidney stones. She said the research was to understand how reptiles deal with nitrogen, which might lead to new approaches to disease prevention and treatment.