Rajamohan 2012) showed decreased levels of CK-MB and troponin-T (a cardiac
marker) in serum when rats were fed with the sprouts at 50, 100, or 200 mg/100 g
body weight for 45 days. Furthermore, it reduced oxidative stress in the heart and
improved antioxidant status which could be due to the presence of polyphenols,
vitamins, and alkaloids in coconut. These results suggest that coconut can be used to
treat dyslipidemia in humans too.
7.5.13 Hepatoprotective Effect
Hepatotoxicity is a covalent bonding of toxic intermediates and hepatocytes which
causes centrilobular hepatic necrosis or lipid peroxidation as well as thiol group
oxidation. A study on the effect of TCW on CCl 4 induced liver injury in female rats
showed no necrosis or any fatty infiltration (Loki and Rajamohan 2003). This is the
sole report that states the hepatoprotective effect of coconut water which generates
the need for further study to discover the role of the coconut in the same.
7.5.14 Hypolipidemic Effect
VCO has the ability to reduce lipid oxidation (Nevin and Rajamohan 2008). Larginine is a prominent amino acid responsible to reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia
(Mini and Rajamohan 2004). Polyphenols present in coconut helps in maintaining
the optimum level of lipid in the blood serum and tissues (Nevin and Rajamohan
2004). It entraps reactive oxygen species in human interstitial fluid and plasma in
arterial walls and inhibits the oxidation of LDL thereby reduces the absorption of
cholesterol in intestines as well as reverses the transport of cholesterol in humans
body (Von Eckardstein et al. 2001). This mechanism of polyphenols helps in
reducing the risk of hyperlipidemia.
7.5.15 In Reducing the Risks of Abdominal Obesity
Obesity is a prevalent disease usually caused by multiple endogenous and environmental factors. Among all the factors, excessive caloric intake is the prominent one
(Wisse et al. 2007). Obesity is the root cause of other chronic diseases such as CVD,
diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer (Poirier et al. 2006). To manage or reduce
obesity, one should do modifications in the regular diet by reducing the calorie
intake, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A report published a
couple of years back showed that coconut water reduced adipose tissue mass by
boosting metabolism accomplished by a decrease in leptin levels in animals fed
high-fat and high-fructose diets (Imaga et al. 2016).
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
179
marker) in serum when rats were fed with the sprouts at 50, 100, or 200 mg/100 g
body weight for 45 days. Furthermore, it reduced oxidative stress in the heart and
improved antioxidant status which could be due to the presence of polyphenols,
vitamins, and alkaloids in coconut. These results suggest that coconut can be used to
treat dyslipidemia in humans too.
7.5.13 Hepatoprotective Effect
Hepatotoxicity is a covalent bonding of toxic intermediates and hepatocytes which
causes centrilobular hepatic necrosis or lipid peroxidation as well as thiol group
oxidation. A study on the effect of TCW on CCl 4 induced liver injury in female rats
showed no necrosis or any fatty infiltration (Loki and Rajamohan 2003). This is the
sole report that states the hepatoprotective effect of coconut water which generates
the need for further study to discover the role of the coconut in the same.
7.5.14 Hypolipidemic Effect
VCO has the ability to reduce lipid oxidation (Nevin and Rajamohan 2008). Larginine is a prominent amino acid responsible to reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia
(Mini and Rajamohan 2004). Polyphenols present in coconut helps in maintaining
the optimum level of lipid in the blood serum and tissues (Nevin and Rajamohan
2004). It entraps reactive oxygen species in human interstitial fluid and plasma in
arterial walls and inhibits the oxidation of LDL thereby reduces the absorption of
cholesterol in intestines as well as reverses the transport of cholesterol in humans
body (Von Eckardstein et al. 2001). This mechanism of polyphenols helps in
reducing the risk of hyperlipidemia.
7.5.15 In Reducing the Risks of Abdominal Obesity
Obesity is a prevalent disease usually caused by multiple endogenous and environmental factors. Among all the factors, excessive caloric intake is the prominent one
(Wisse et al. 2007). Obesity is the root cause of other chronic diseases such as CVD,
diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer (Poirier et al. 2006). To manage or reduce
obesity, one should do modifications in the regular diet by reducing the calorie
intake, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A report published a
couple of years back showed that coconut water reduced adipose tissue mass by
boosting metabolism accomplished by a decrease in leptin levels in animals fed
high-fat and high-fructose diets (Imaga et al. 2016).
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
179