Antioxidant Property and Cardiovascular Effects of Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Water

Coconut water, a natural nutritious beverage that contains several biologically active chemical substances, is used in the management/treatment of several disorders in Eastern Nigeria. This study was set up to evaluate the antioxidant potential of coconut water and its effect on the cardiovascular system in albino rats. Twenty five adult male albino rats, used in this work, were placed into five groups (A, B, C, D and E), of five rats per group. Groups A, B, C and D were administered orally with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ml/kg body weight respectively of the coconut water for fourteen consecutive days. Group E was the control. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were used to investigate antioxidant activity of the coconut water, while lipid profile was determined as an index of its cardiovascular effect. GPX and SOD activity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the test groups than in untreated group, while MDA levels decreased significantly (P< 0.05) in the treated groups relative to the control. There was a significant reduction (P< 0.05) in total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein, while high density lipoproteins increased significantly (P< 0.05) in the test animals relative to the control. These observations were found to be linearly dose-dependent. These results may be due to the chemical constituents of the coconut water, and could be partly responsible for its application in the management of some disorders.