7.5.1 Anti-atherosclerotic Effect
Atherosclerosis, a phenomenon generally induced by Chlamydia pneumonia, plays a
major role in initiating an inflammatory process that oxidizes lipoproteins with the
induction of cytokines and the production of proteolytic enzymes (Enig 2004).
Esquenazi et al. (2002) observed the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of coconut
husk fiber against acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV), and the responsible components would be catechins, epicatechins, and tannins. Almost all the HSVs
are believed to be destroyed by monoglycerides (MG) and fatty acids ranging from
C 6 to C 14 which constitutes around 80% of fatty acids and MGs present in
coconut oil.
7.5.2 Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral Effect
Tender coconut water (TCW) is preferred in the treatment of cholera because of its
saline and albumen content (Effiong et al. 2010). MCFA found in coconut especially
lauric acid and its derivatives are effective in killing bacteria consisting of lipid
membranes as it breaks down their lipid membrane. They are also effective against
bacteria that cause gastric ulcers, food poisoning, dental caries, and infection in the
urinary tract.
The comparison of aqueous, ethanolic, and dry distilled extracts of coconut
endocarp with gentamicin and ciprofloxacin for their antimicrobial activity showed
a strong antimicrobial effect against S. aureus, M. luteus, B. subtilis, and
P. aeruginosa (Nagata et al. 2011). The dry distilled extract was effective against
R. oligosporus at 10, 50, 100, and 300 μg/disc (Singla et al. 2011). Verma et al.
(2012) studied the antimicrobial activity of coconut mesocarp powder against E. coli
and S. typhi by extracting them in ethanol, chloroform, diethyl ether, benzene,
acetone, and formaldehyde. They noticed the highest antimicrobial activity against
E. coli with benzene while diethyl ether for S. typhi. The identified components
present in coconut mesocarp responsible for antimicrobial activity against these two
pathogens were β-sitosterol, cycloartenol, alcohol palmitoyl, and tocopherol.
Esquenazi et al. (2002) conducted trials for the antimicrobial study using crude
extract and TLC fractions (I-V) of coconut mesocarp fiber, and TLC fractions II–V
were analyzed against S. aureus. Antifungal activity was tested against Cryptococcus neoformans or Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Candida albicans by checking their
growth inhibition. Furthermore, antiviral activity was checked with crude extract and
only TLC fraction-II. It was observed that all three effects were exhibited by
catechins and condensed tannins coconut itself and thereby in extracts especially
fraction II. The MCSFA present in coconut oil is very effective against viruses
especially cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and visna virus, and it is achieved by
the destruction of their cell wall membranes and thereby interfering in viral maturation (Arora et al. 2011).
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P. T. Parmar et al.
Atherosclerosis, a phenomenon generally induced by Chlamydia pneumonia, plays a
major role in initiating an inflammatory process that oxidizes lipoproteins with the
induction of cytokines and the production of proteolytic enzymes (Enig 2004).
Esquenazi et al. (2002) observed the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of coconut
husk fiber against acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV), and the responsible components would be catechins, epicatechins, and tannins. Almost all the HSVs
are believed to be destroyed by monoglycerides (MG) and fatty acids ranging from
C 6 to C 14 which constitutes around 80% of fatty acids and MGs present in
coconut oil.
7.5.2 Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral Effect
Tender coconut water (TCW) is preferred in the treatment of cholera because of its
saline and albumen content (Effiong et al. 2010). MCFA found in coconut especially
lauric acid and its derivatives are effective in killing bacteria consisting of lipid
membranes as it breaks down their lipid membrane. They are also effective against
bacteria that cause gastric ulcers, food poisoning, dental caries, and infection in the
urinary tract.
The comparison of aqueous, ethanolic, and dry distilled extracts of coconut
endocarp with gentamicin and ciprofloxacin for their antimicrobial activity showed
a strong antimicrobial effect against S. aureus, M. luteus, B. subtilis, and
P. aeruginosa (Nagata et al. 2011). The dry distilled extract was effective against
R. oligosporus at 10, 50, 100, and 300 μg/disc (Singla et al. 2011). Verma et al.
(2012) studied the antimicrobial activity of coconut mesocarp powder against E. coli
and S. typhi by extracting them in ethanol, chloroform, diethyl ether, benzene,
acetone, and formaldehyde. They noticed the highest antimicrobial activity against
E. coli with benzene while diethyl ether for S. typhi. The identified components
present in coconut mesocarp responsible for antimicrobial activity against these two
pathogens were β-sitosterol, cycloartenol, alcohol palmitoyl, and tocopherol.
Esquenazi et al. (2002) conducted trials for the antimicrobial study using crude
extract and TLC fractions (I-V) of coconut mesocarp fiber, and TLC fractions II–V
were analyzed against S. aureus. Antifungal activity was tested against Cryptococcus neoformans or Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Candida albicans by checking their
growth inhibition. Furthermore, antiviral activity was checked with crude extract and
only TLC fraction-II. It was observed that all three effects were exhibited by
catechins and condensed tannins coconut itself and thereby in extracts especially
fraction II. The MCSFA present in coconut oil is very effective against viruses
especially cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and visna virus, and it is achieved by
the destruction of their cell wall membranes and thereby interfering in viral maturation (Arora et al. 2011).
174
P. T. Parmar et al.