7.5.3 Anticaries Effect
Traditionally, a decoction prepared from coconut tree roots is being used for
mouthwash and gargling to reduce the risk of dental caries. Since the use of the
aqueous extract of coconut husk fiber does not prompt any ocular or dermic
reactions, it could be a potential substitute for drugs used to treat oral diseases
(Alviano et al. 2008). Mouth sores can be treated by coconut flour as coconut is
rich in lauric acid, and it is already being used for oral treatments (Taheri et al. 2010).
Coconut contains sucrose monolaurate which is a potential anticaries substance since
it reduces glycolysis and oxidation of sucrose caused by Streptococcus mutans.
Therefore, it can be used to treat dental plaque. Soap prepared using coconut was
used along with sodium hypochlorite solution (0.05%) in the treatment of stomatitis
and denture biofilm (Barnabé et al. 2004).
7.5.4 Antidiabetic Effect
Diabetes mellitus became a prominent disease in the past few decades due to a
drastic change in food habits as well as reduced physical activity. Diabetes is
characterized by deviations in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism due to
complete or relative insufficiency of insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells and/or
defects in insulin action (Unger and Foster 1998). The protein present in coconut
kernel exhibits antidiabetic activity, and that can be backed by three mechanisms
exhibited as a result of action of coconut kernel protein, viz., increase in glycogen
and insulin level and reduction in serum glucose level, efficient degradation of
carbohydrate by β-D-galactosidase, and inhibitory action of arginine on regeneration
of β-pancreatic cells resulting in increased insulin secretion and subsequent increase
in glycogen level in blood serum (Salil et al. 2011).
Preetha et al. (2014) studied the effects of mature coconut water on alloxaninduced diabetes in rats and observed reduced blood glucose level and lipid level in
blood and tissues and reduction inactivity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme
A (HMG CoA). In a study to assess antidiabetic effects of coconut inflorescence on
streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats, Renjith et al. (2013)
observed that a dose of methanolic extract of coconut inflorescence at 200 mg/kg
body weight was effective in reducing streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats which
could be due to arginine, leucine, isoleucine, polyphenols, and dietary fibers present
in coconut itself.
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Traditionally, a decoction prepared from coconut tree roots is being used for
mouthwash and gargling to reduce the risk of dental caries. Since the use of the
aqueous extract of coconut husk fiber does not prompt any ocular or dermic
reactions, it could be a potential substitute for drugs used to treat oral diseases
(Alviano et al. 2008). Mouth sores can be treated by coconut flour as coconut is
rich in lauric acid, and it is already being used for oral treatments (Taheri et al. 2010).
Coconut contains sucrose monolaurate which is a potential anticaries substance since
it reduces glycolysis and oxidation of sucrose caused by Streptococcus mutans.
Therefore, it can be used to treat dental plaque. Soap prepared using coconut was
used along with sodium hypochlorite solution (0.05%) in the treatment of stomatitis
and denture biofilm (Barnabé et al. 2004).
7.5.4 Antidiabetic Effect
Diabetes mellitus became a prominent disease in the past few decades due to a
drastic change in food habits as well as reduced physical activity. Diabetes is
characterized by deviations in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism due to
complete or relative insufficiency of insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells and/or
defects in insulin action (Unger and Foster 1998). The protein present in coconut
kernel exhibits antidiabetic activity, and that can be backed by three mechanisms
exhibited as a result of action of coconut kernel protein, viz., increase in glycogen
and insulin level and reduction in serum glucose level, efficient degradation of
carbohydrate by β-D-galactosidase, and inhibitory action of arginine on regeneration
of β-pancreatic cells resulting in increased insulin secretion and subsequent increase
in glycogen level in blood serum (Salil et al. 2011).
Preetha et al. (2014) studied the effects of mature coconut water on alloxaninduced diabetes in rats and observed reduced blood glucose level and lipid level in
blood and tissues and reduction inactivity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme
A (HMG CoA). In a study to assess antidiabetic effects of coconut inflorescence on
streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats, Renjith et al. (2013)
observed that a dose of methanolic extract of coconut inflorescence at 200 mg/kg
body weight was effective in reducing streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats which
could be due to arginine, leucine, isoleucine, polyphenols, and dietary fibers present
in coconut itself.
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
175