Health Impact News Editor Comments: At the beginning of 2011 I predicted we would see more research coming from the coconut producing countries on the health benefits of coconut oil. That has proved true, and here is the latest study from Malaysia showing how coconut oil can potentially reduce pain and inflammation. Inflammation is increasingly be linked to many health problems, and resulting in a great influx of dangerous anti-inflammatory drugs. Research is showing once again just how significant one’s health can change by including coconut oil in one’s diet.
Med Princ Pract. 2011;20(3):231-6. Epub 2011 Mar 29.
In vivo Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Dried and Fermented Processed Virgin Coconut Oil.
Zakaria ZA, Somchit MN, Mat Jais AM, Teh LK, Salleh MZ, Long K.
Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
Abstract
Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of virgin coconut oil (VCO) produced by theMalaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) using various in vivo models. Materials and Methods: Two types of VCOs, produced via standard drying (VCOA) and fermentation (VCOB) processes were used in this study. Both VCOA and VCOB were serially diluted using 1% Tween 80 to concentrations (v/v) of 10, 50 and 100%. Antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory activities of both VCOs were examined using various in vivomodel systems. The antinociceptive activity of the VCOs were compared to those of 1% Tween 80 (used as a negative control), morphine (5 mg/kg) and/or acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg). Results: Both VCOA and VCOB exhibited significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Both VCOs also exerted significant (p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin and hot-plate tests. Interestingly, the VCOs exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in an acute (carrageenan-induced paw edema test), but not in a chronic (cotton-pellet-induced granuloma test) model of inflammation. Conclusion: The MARDI-produced VCOs possessed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Abstract Here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21454992