241
doi:
Document heading
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, KPC Medical College and Hospital, 1F Raja S C Mallick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700 032, India
Department of Zoology, Gurudas College, Narkeldanga, Kolkata-700 054, India
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received 15 December 2010
Received in revised form 27 December
2010
Accepted 15 January 2011
Available online 20 March 2011
Coconut,
Cocos nucifera
L.,
is a treevalues.
that is cultivated
for its
multiple
mainly
for
its nutritional
and copra,
medicinal
The kernel,
various
products
of utilities,
coconut
include
tender
coconut
water,
coconut
oil,
raw
coconut
cake,
coconut
toddy,
coconut
shell
and
wood
based
products,
coconut
leaves,
coir
pith
etc.
Its
all
parts
are
used
in areas.
someway
or the
another
in source
the daily
life of natural
the people
in thefortraditional
coconut
growing
It
is
unique
of
various
products
the
development
of
medicines
against
various
diseases
and
also
for
the
development
of
industria
products.
The partsproperties
of its fruit
coconut kernelantifungal,
and tender
coconut antiparasitic,
water have
numerous
medicinal
suchlike
as antibacterial,
antiviral,
antidermatophytic,
antioxidant,
hypoglycemic,
hepatoprotective,
immunostimulant.
Coconut
and health,
coconut and
kernel
contain
microminerals
and by
nutrients,
whichin are
essential water
to human
hence
coconut
is used as food
the peoples
the
globe, mainly in the tropical countries. The coconut palm is, therefore, eulogised as
Kalpavriksha
(the
all
giving
describes the facts and phenomenatree)
in
Indian
classics,
and
thus
the
current
review
related to its use in health and disease prevention.
Keywords:
Coconut
Medicinal property
Nutritional value
Disease prevention
1. Introduction
The
coconutfruit
[Cocos
(C.1 )nucifera)
is
an
important
treenucifera
(Figure
in the L.]
world,
providing
food
for
millions
of
people,
especially
in
the
tropical and subtropical regions and with its many uses
it
is often
called
the
tree of life[1]. At any one time a
coconut
palm
has
12 diferent crops of nuts on it, from
opening
flower
to
ripe
nut. India
isIndonesia
the thirdand
largest
coconut
producing
country,
after
the
Philippines,
having
an
area
of
about
1.78 million
hectares under the crop. Annual production is about
7 562 million
nuts with an average of 5 295
nuts/hectare[2]. In India, the four south Indian states
namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh account for around
90% of the coconut production in the country[2]; the
overall state wise coconut production is depicted in
Figure 2.
For thousands of years, coconut products have
held a respected and valuable place in Indian folk
medicine. It is believed to be antiblenorrhagic,
antibronchitis, febrifugal, and antigingivitic. In
Ayurvedic medicine, the oil, milk,
*Corresponding author: Dr. Shyamapada Mandal, Department of Zoology,
Gurudas
College, Narkeldanga, Kolkata-700 054,
India.
E-mail: samtropmed@gmail.com
Manisha
Manisha DebMandal
DebMandal et
et al./Asian
al./Asian Pacific
Pacific Journal
Journal of
of Tropical
Tropical Medicine
Medicine (2011)241-247
(2011)241-247
Figure
1.
Coconut
(Cocos
nucifera).
a: apical part of the tree with green coconut; b: fruit
halves.
8%
7%
2%
39
%
10
%
34% Kdrela
Karnataka
West Bengal
Tamilnadu
Andhraprade
sh Others
3
nuts/tree.
A
coconut
tree
under
its
lifetime
can
produce up to 10 000 nuts.
4. Nutritional values
Coconutwater
has (TCW),
multifarious
utility.
The tender
coconut
the liquid
endosperm,
is an
excellent
natural
softwater
drink.
It has vitamin
a caloric
value
of
17
.
4
/
100
g.
Coconut
contains
B, acid
namely,
B5
nicotinic
acid
B
3 (0.64 g/mL), pantothenic
((<
0.52 g/mL), biotin (0.02 g/mL), riboflavin B2
0. 01 g/mL), folic
acidpyridoxine
(0.003
trace
[5]. Besides
B1 and
B6g/mL),
amount
of water
thiaminecontain
coconut
sugars,
sugar
alcohols,
vitamin
C,
folic
acid,
free
amino
acids,
phytohormones (auxin,
1
, 3-diphenylurea,
cytokinin),
enzymes (acid
phosphatase,
catalase,
dehydrogenase,
RNA
peroxidase,
polymerases)
and growth diastase,
promoting
factors[6].
Copra,
the
dried
kernel,
which
is
mainly
used
for
[2]. The
oil
extraction,
contains
about 65for
% to
75% oil
unopened
spathe
is vinegar
tapped
toddy,
which
is
converted
into
jaggery,
and
sugar.
The
kernel
(wet
meat)tofee,
is mainly
used
in formaking
curries,
chutney,
sweet
and
other
cooking
[2]. The composition of dessicated coconut has
purposes
[7]; herein
been
documented
by Bawalan
and Chapman
the
important
nutrition
components
are depicted
in
Figure
3
.
Whereas,
the
nutritional
components
of
coconut
milk
extracted
from freshly shredded meat are
diferent
as
70
50
3. Historical cultivation
Cultivation of coconut depends on soil type, slope of
land,
and rainfall distribution. It grows well on well drained
loamy
and clayey soil. A year-round warm and humid
climate
favors the growth of coconut. A mean annual
temperature of
27 , an evenly distributed rainfall of 1 500-2 500
mm per
annum, and relative humidity above 60% provide the
ideal
climatic conditions for the vigorous growth and yield of
the
palm[1]. Under good climatic conditions, a fully
productive
palm produces 12-16 bunches of coconuts per year,
each
bunch with 8-10 nuts.
For the cultivation of coconut, usually 7-8 month
old
seedlings, raised from fully mature fruits are
used for
transplants. Nuts are planted in nursery after
about 16
weeks. Usually 70-150 trees/ha are planted; with
triangular
60
Manisha
Manisha DebMandal
DebMandal et
et al./Asian
al./Asian Pacific
Pacific Journal
Journal of
of Tropical
Tropical Medicine
Medicine (2011)241-247
(2011)241-247
40
10
30
0
Carbohydrate
20
Protein
Fat and oil Natural sugar
Moisture
Amount (%)
0
36 mg
5
10
27 Cal
26 mg
50
20
Fatty acid (%)
Amount
15
25
30
45
40
35
30
25
35
4.5 g
1.6 g
20
2 mg
0.7mg
0.01 mg 0.01mg 0.4
mg
40
0.4 g
15
10
5
0
C6:0
Amount
C8:0
C18:2
Fatty acid constituent
25
TAG (%)
20
15
10
Amount (g)
0
4
TAG combination
0
Isoleucine
5. Medicinal values
5.1. As an electrolyte
It is highly
rich%),
in Ca
inorganic
ions
(290
mg
%),
mg
(44 mg
%),such
Mg (as
10 Kmg
%),
P
[9]. The
(electrolytes
9.2 Na
mg(42%)
etc.
concentration
of
these
TCW
in
generates
an
osmotic
pressure
[9]
similar
to that
observed The
in high
bloodamount
and does not
afect plasma
coagulation.
A freeinamino
L-arginine
(30 reduce
mg/dL), the
is
TCW acid,
present
which[10]
significantly
TCW also contain
free
radical
generation
.significantly
vitamin
C
(
15
mg/
100
mL)
that
reduce
lipid
[10]. VCO is capable
peroxidation
when
introduced
in ratswhen
of
increasing
antioxidant
enzymes
supplemented
[12].
with
diets in rats
5.4. Cardioprotective effect
Coconut is composed of the fatty acids caprylic acid
C-8:0
content[15].
The versatile
coconutwhich
tree is
source of various
chemical
compounds,
area Recently,
responsible
of the
various
activities
of the
tree.
modern
medicinal
research
has
confirmed
many
health
benefits
of the extensive
multiple coconut
products
in various
forms.
Hence
investigation
is needed
exploit
therapeutic
utility
to
combat
e to
as
sh eo su .l dAtheir
d
r
u
g
d
e
v
e
l
o
p
m
e
n
t
p
r
o
g dr ia sm
b
e
undertaken
to
develop
modern
drugs
with
the
compounds
isolated
from
coconut.
Modern
drugs
require
to be developed after
extensive investigation
of
its
bioactivity,
mechanism
of
action,
pharmacotherapeutics,
after
proper
standardization
and
clinical
trials.
As
the
global
scenario
is
now
changing
towards
the use medicinal
of non-toxic
products
having
traditional
use,beplant
development
of
modern
drugs
from
C.
nucifera
should
emphasized
for
the
control
of
various
diseases.
Coconut
imbibing
tremendous
potential
deserves
a special
attention for
ofa
the
scientific
fraternity
to
emerge
as
a milestone
medical
science
of
this
millennium
due
to
its
various
medicinal
Further
evaluation
needsthe
to be
carried
out
on and
C. uses.
nucifera
in order
to explore
concealed
areas
their
practical
clinical
applications,
which
can be used for the welfare of the mankind.
Conflict of interest statement
We declare that we have no conflict of
interest.
References
[1] island
Chan E,
Elevitch 2006.
CR. Species
profiles
for Pacifi
c
agroforestry,
[Online].
Available
from:
www.traditionaltree.
org [Accessed
on November
03, 2010].
[2] NMCE. Report on copra. National Multi-commodity Exchange
of
India Limited; 2007, 114.
[3] Dayrit CS. The truth about coconut oil: The drugstore in a
bottle.
Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc;
2005.
[4] Vestlund L. The healing power of organic virgin coconut oil,
2009.
[Online]. Available from: http://cocofat.com/virgin-coconutoil[12]Nevin
KG, Rajamohan
T. Virginstatus
coconut
oil supplemented
diet
increases
the antioxidant
in rats.
Food Chem
2005;
99:
260-266.
[13]Enig MG. Coconut: In support of good health in the 21st
Century,
2004. [Online]. Available from:
http://www.apcc.org.sg/special.
htm. [Accessed on December 27, 2010].
[14]Nevin KG, Rajamohan T. Beneficial efects of virgin
coconut oil
on lipid parameters and in vitro LDL oxidation. Clin
Biochem
2004; 37: 830-835.
[15]Nevin
KG, Rajamohan
Influence
ofand
virgin
coconut oil on
blood
coagulation
factors,T. lipid
levelsEur
in
cholesterol
fed Sprague-Dawley
rats.
e-JLDL
Clin oxidation
Nutr Metabol
2007; e1-e8.
[16]Mller
H, rich
Lindman
AS, Blomfeldt
A, diurnal
Seljeflot postprandial
I, Pedersen
JI.
A diet
in coconut
oil
reduces
variations
in fasting
circulating
tissue
plasminogen
activator
antigen
and
lipoprotein(a)
compared
with
a diet
rich
in
unsaturated
fat
in
women.
J
Nutr
2003;
133(11):
3422-3427.
[17]Ibrahim
AI, Kindermann
Obeid MT, I,
Jouma
MJ,Detection
Moasis of
GA,
AlRichane
WL,
et al.
herpes
simplex
virus,
cytomegalovirus
andin
Epstein-Barr
virus
DNA
in
atherosclerotic
plaques
and
unafected
bypass
grafts. J Clin Virol 2005; 32(1):
29-32.
[18]Esquenazi D, Wigg MD, Miranda MM, Rodrigues HM,
Tostes
JB, Rozental S, et al. Antimicrobial and antiviral
activities of
polyphenolics from Cocos nucifera Linn. (Palmae) husk
fiber
extract. Res Microbiol 2002; 153(10):647-652.
[19]Mini
S, Rajamohan
Influence
of coconut
protein
on
lipid
in T.
alcohol
fed rats.
Indian kernel
J Exp Biol
2004;
42(1):metabolism
5357.
[20]Eckarstein V, Noter JR, Assmann G. High density
lipoproteins and
atherosclerosis. Role of cholesterol efflux and reverse
cholesterol
transport. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002; 21: 13-27.
[21]Abate MA, Moore TL. Monooctanoin use for gallstone
dissolution.
Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1985; 19: 708-713.
suppressed
1206-1212.Swiss Albino mice. Ethnobot Leaflets 2008; 12:
[44]Salil G, Nevin KG, Rajamohan T. Arginine rich coconut
kernel protein modulates diabetes in alloxan treated rats.
Chemico-Biol
Interact
2010.
doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2010.10.015.
[45]Kneiflova J, Slosarek M, Melichercikov V, Parkova
J.
Microbicidal efect of Lautercide, a new disinfectant.
Cesk
Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol 1992; 41(6): 355-361.
[46]Dautel H, Hilker M, Kahl O, Siems K. Verwendung
von
Dodecansureals Zeckenrepellent. Patentschrift DE 199 25 838
C
1. Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt. (01.03.2001).
[47]Sylla M, Konan L, Doannio JM, Traore S. Evaluation
of the
efficacity of coconut (Cocos nucifera), palm nut (Eleais
guineensis)
and gobi (Carapa procera) lotions and creams in
indivirual
protection against Simulium damnosum s.l. bites in Cote
dIvoire.
Bull Soc Pathol Exot 2003; 96(2):104-109.
[48]Robeerto CA. Cocobiodiesel. Coconut methyl ester (CME)
as
petrodiesel quality enhancer. Dept. Agr. Philippine
Coconut
Authority; 2001, p.1-37.
[49]Radenahmad N, Vongvatcharanon U, Withyachumnarnkul
B,
Connor JR. Serum levels of 17-estradiol in
ovariectomized
rats fed young-coconut-juice and its efect on wound
healing
Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 2006; 28(5): 897-910.