7.5.5 Antidermatophytic
Coconut oil is being used since centuries as moisturizer in different parts of the
world. In a double-blind study conducted by Agero and Verallo-Rowell (2004) for
the moisturizing effect of extra virgin coconut oil on the skin surface for mild to
more xerosis and observed a significant improvement in skin hydration and
increased lipid level of the skin surface. Monolaurin is a derivative of lauric acid
which is a major fatty acid present in coconut kernel and has been investigated for its
in vitro antibacterial activity against skin infection-causing organisms by Carpo et al.
(2007), and they observed no resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
isolated from superficial skin infections. Another study of VCO and monolaurin on
atopic dermatitis in adults showed broad-spectrum activity against S. aureus, fungi,
and viruses which can be useful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis colonization in
humans (Verallo-Rowell et al. 2008).
7.5.6 Antihypertensive Effect
Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure above 140 mm of Hg or diastolic
blood pressure above 90 mm of Hg and is a major growing health problem across the
globe (Go 2013; Go et al. 2013), Weber et al. (2014), Mancia et al. (2013)). Phenolic
compounds present in plants especially flavonoids are known for their effectiveness
against hypertension (Perez-Vizcaino et al. 2009). Bankar et al. (2011) studied the
antihypertensive activity of an ethanolic extract of coconut endocarp was studied in
the deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced rats and observed a significant reduction in blood pressure of model rats which could be attributed to the activation of
nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase pathway as well as presence of flavonoids in the
ethanolic extract prepared from coconut endocarp.
7.5.7 Anti-inflammatory Effect
A decoction of coconut husk fiber is widely used traditionally in Brazil for the
treatment of arthritis and diarrhea (Esquenazi et al. 2002). Silva et al. (2013)
conducted a study on anti-inflammatory effect of coconut husk fiber extract on
carrageenan, histamine, and serotonin-induced rat paw edema and reported that
crude extract significantly reduced rat paw edema induced by histamine (150 mg/
kg) and serotonin (100 and 150 mg/kg). Fraction 1 (molecular weight lesser than
1 kDa, 1, 10, and 50 mg/kg) also had significant inhibitory effect on histamine and
serotonin-induced edema which may be due to inhibitory effect of husk fiber extract
through either formation or liberation of inflammatory mediators such as serotonin,
histamine, and bradykinin or by direct blocking of receptors.
176
P. T. Parmar et al.
Coconut oil is being used since centuries as moisturizer in different parts of the
world. In a double-blind study conducted by Agero and Verallo-Rowell (2004) for
the moisturizing effect of extra virgin coconut oil on the skin surface for mild to
more xerosis and observed a significant improvement in skin hydration and
increased lipid level of the skin surface. Monolaurin is a derivative of lauric acid
which is a major fatty acid present in coconut kernel and has been investigated for its
in vitro antibacterial activity against skin infection-causing organisms by Carpo et al.
(2007), and they observed no resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
isolated from superficial skin infections. Another study of VCO and monolaurin on
atopic dermatitis in adults showed broad-spectrum activity against S. aureus, fungi,
and viruses which can be useful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis colonization in
humans (Verallo-Rowell et al. 2008).
7.5.6 Antihypertensive Effect
Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure above 140 mm of Hg or diastolic
blood pressure above 90 mm of Hg and is a major growing health problem across the
globe (Go 2013; Go et al. 2013), Weber et al. (2014), Mancia et al. (2013)). Phenolic
compounds present in plants especially flavonoids are known for their effectiveness
against hypertension (Perez-Vizcaino et al. 2009). Bankar et al. (2011) studied the
antihypertensive activity of an ethanolic extract of coconut endocarp was studied in
the deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced rats and observed a significant reduction in blood pressure of model rats which could be attributed to the activation of
nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase pathway as well as presence of flavonoids in the
ethanolic extract prepared from coconut endocarp.
7.5.7 Anti-inflammatory Effect
A decoction of coconut husk fiber is widely used traditionally in Brazil for the
treatment of arthritis and diarrhea (Esquenazi et al. 2002). Silva et al. (2013)
conducted a study on anti-inflammatory effect of coconut husk fiber extract on
carrageenan, histamine, and serotonin-induced rat paw edema and reported that
crude extract significantly reduced rat paw edema induced by histamine (150 mg/
kg) and serotonin (100 and 150 mg/kg). Fraction 1 (molecular weight lesser than
1 kDa, 1, 10, and 50 mg/kg) also had significant inhibitory effect on histamine and
serotonin-induced edema which may be due to inhibitory effect of husk fiber extract
through either formation or liberation of inflammatory mediators such as serotonin,
histamine, and bradykinin or by direct blocking of receptors.
176
P. T. Parmar et al.