extract; group II (2000 mg/kg) aqueous extract; group III (500 mg/kg) of butanol
extract; group IV (1000 mg/kg) of butanol extract; group V (0.56 mg/kg)
febendazole; and group VI (3% dimethylsulfoxide). Among all the extracts, only
butanol extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed an efficiency of 62.72% and 98.36%,
respectively (P < 0.05). They also studied the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of the
aqueous and butanolic extract of the coconut husk against Haemonchus contortus. In
egg hatching and larval development tests, 2.5 mg/mL aqueous and 10 mg/mL
butanolic extract showed 100% ovicidal activity, while larvicidal effects were
81.30% and 99.80% at 65 and 80 mg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that
different parts of coconut can be used to treat gastrointestinal nematodes, and more
studies are needed to evaluate their potential in humans.
7.5.11 Antithrombotic Effect
Virgin coconut oil has better antithrombotic activity than copra oil (Nevin and
Rajamohan 2008). As compared to high MUFA and PUFA diet, a high SFA diet
helps in lowering the postprandial tissue plasminogen activator antigen concentration and that affects the lipoprotein A concentration and fibrinolytic system as well.
Coconut oil is a rich source of SFA, if included in the diet, it can have a good
antithrombotic effect as dietary SFA has more lipoprotein A lowering capacity than
percentage saturated fat energy (Muller et al. 2003).
7.5.12 Cardioprotective Effect
As discussed earlier in this chapter, coconut has an abundant amount of MCFA
(Table 7.4) which is directly absorbed in the intestine and goes to the liver for energy
generation and, therefore, does not take part in cholesterol biosynthesis and transport
(Enig 2004). Coconut water is a rich source of potassium which possesses
cardioprotective effect in myocardial infarction. Nevin and Rajamohan (2004)
reported a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a significant decrease in
LDL cholesterol levels of Male Sprague-Dawley rats when fed with VCO diet.
Polyphenols present in VCO prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol in vitro.
Cardioprotective activity of coconut water was evaluated in rats by inducing
myocardial infarction using isoproterenol. The study revealed that feeding of tender
coconut water to experimental animals reduced the myocardial infarction and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation (Rajamohan and Anurag 2003). It can reduce VLDL,
LDL, TGs, and total cholesterol levels in blood serum which is evident from the
findings of Sandhya and Rajamohan (2006) who reported a reduction of these
components in rats when they were fed with coconut water at the rate of 4 mL/
100 g body weight. Feeding of dietary coconut sprout of West Coast Tall variety to
the rats having an isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (Chikku and
178
P. T. Parmar et al.
extract; group IV (1000 mg/kg) of butanol extract; group V (0.56 mg/kg)
febendazole; and group VI (3% dimethylsulfoxide). Among all the extracts, only
butanol extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed an efficiency of 62.72% and 98.36%,
respectively (P < 0.05). They also studied the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of the
aqueous and butanolic extract of the coconut husk against Haemonchus contortus. In
egg hatching and larval development tests, 2.5 mg/mL aqueous and 10 mg/mL
butanolic extract showed 100% ovicidal activity, while larvicidal effects were
81.30% and 99.80% at 65 and 80 mg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that
different parts of coconut can be used to treat gastrointestinal nematodes, and more
studies are needed to evaluate their potential in humans.
7.5.11 Antithrombotic Effect
Virgin coconut oil has better antithrombotic activity than copra oil (Nevin and
Rajamohan 2008). As compared to high MUFA and PUFA diet, a high SFA diet
helps in lowering the postprandial tissue plasminogen activator antigen concentration and that affects the lipoprotein A concentration and fibrinolytic system as well.
Coconut oil is a rich source of SFA, if included in the diet, it can have a good
antithrombotic effect as dietary SFA has more lipoprotein A lowering capacity than
percentage saturated fat energy (Muller et al. 2003).
7.5.12 Cardioprotective Effect
As discussed earlier in this chapter, coconut has an abundant amount of MCFA
(Table 7.4) which is directly absorbed in the intestine and goes to the liver for energy
generation and, therefore, does not take part in cholesterol biosynthesis and transport
(Enig 2004). Coconut water is a rich source of potassium which possesses
cardioprotective effect in myocardial infarction. Nevin and Rajamohan (2004)
reported a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a significant decrease in
LDL cholesterol levels of Male Sprague-Dawley rats when fed with VCO diet.
Polyphenols present in VCO prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol in vitro.
Cardioprotective activity of coconut water was evaluated in rats by inducing
myocardial infarction using isoproterenol. The study revealed that feeding of tender
coconut water to experimental animals reduced the myocardial infarction and mitochondrial lipid peroxidation (Rajamohan and Anurag 2003). It can reduce VLDL,
LDL, TGs, and total cholesterol levels in blood serum which is evident from the
findings of Sandhya and Rajamohan (2006) who reported a reduction of these
components in rats when they were fed with coconut water at the rate of 4 mL/
100 g body weight. Feeding of dietary coconut sprout of West Coast Tall variety to
the rats having an isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (Chikku and
178
P. T. Parmar et al.