• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2016

Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has made the management of drug toxicities an increasingly crucial component of HIV. This study investigated the effects of adjuvant use of coconut oil and HAART on testicular morphology and seminal parameters in Sprague-Dawley rats. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 153~169 g were distributed into four groups (A-D) and treated as follows: A served as control (distilled water); B (HAART cocktail-Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine); C (HAART + Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg) and D (Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg). After 56 days of treatment, animals were killed and laparotomy to exercise the epididymis for seminal fluid analyses done whilst testicular tissues were processed for histo-morphometric studies. Result showed a significant decline in sperm motility (P < 0.05) and count (P < 0.0001) in HAART-treated animals while there was insignificant changes in other parameters in groups C and D except count that was reduced (P < 0.0001) when compared with controls. Histomorphological studies showed HAART caused disorders in seminiferous tubular architecture with significant (P < 0.01) decline in epithelial height closely mirrored by extensive reticulin framework and positive PAS cells. Adjuvant Virgin coconut oil + HAART resulted in significant decrease in seminiferous tubular diameter (P < 0.05), but other morphometric and histological parameters were similar to control or Virgin coconut oil alone (which showed normal histoarchitecture levels). While derangements in testicular and seminal fluid parameters occurred following HAART, adjuvant treatment with Virgin coconut oil restored the distortions emanating thereof.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.571-581
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virgin coconut oil supplementation and complex exercise on body composition, oxidative stress and blood pressure in the middle-aged women with metabolic syndrome. As a result, weight and body fat in coconut oil+complex exercise and coconut oil group are significantly decreased after the program. BMI and WHR in coconut oil+complex exercise group are significantly decreased after than before the program. MDA in coconut oil+complex exercise and coconut oil group is significantly decreased after the program. SOD in coconut oil+complex exercise and coconut oil group is significantly increased after the program. Systolic blood pressure in coconut oil+complex exercise and coconut oil group is significantly decreased after than before the program. Diastolic blood pressure in coconut oil+complex exercise group is significantly decreased after than before the program.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.28.1-28.6
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• 2015

This current study investigated the anti-ulcer activity of 2 types of virgin coconut oil (VCO-A and VCO-B) and coconut oil (CO). Sprague-Dawley of male rats divided into 6 groups and each group consisted of ten rats. Rats were then treated with either VCO or CO and then were then anaesthetized and pyloric ligation was performed. The anaesthesia was discontinued and the animal usually recovered consciousness within less than an hour. Three hours later, the animal was then again anaesthetized and sacrificed with chloroform. Stomach removed and its content subjected to measurement of volume and pH. The results revealed VCO-B and VCO-A (100%) significantly inhibited (p < 0.001) the volume of gastric juice secreted by the control rats by 66.81% and 51.53%, respectively. Followed by CO 42.80%. While the inhibition of gastric juice for positive control rats which treated with ranitidine (100 mg/kg) was only 22.38%. The total acid output was reduced by the oils to 70.80%, 74.16% and 40.45% for VCO-A, VCO-B and CO respectively compared to control group. Ranitidine reduced the total acid output by 34.83%. In conclusion, prevention of gastric lesions in rats by VCO was found to increase the mucous and decrease the acid volume, total acid contents and ulcer scoring. The treatment of VCO affects the all parameters that influence the initiation and perpetuation of ulceration.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.11.1-11.7
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• 2016

The aimed of the presence study was to determine the antiulcer potential of virgin coconut oil (VCO), either extracted by wet process (VCO_A) or fermentation process (VCO_B), and to compare their effectiveness against the copra oil (CO) using the HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Earlier, the oils underwent chemical analysis to determine the free fatty acids composition, physicochemical properties and anti-oxidant capability. In the antiulcer study, rats (n=6) were pre-treated orally for 7 consecutive days with distilled water (vehicle), 100 mg/kg ranitidine (positive group) or the respective oils (10, 50, and 100% concentration). One hour after the last test solutions administration on Day 7^th, the animals were subjected to the gastric ulcer assay. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed on the collected rat's stomachs. From the results obtained, the chemical analysis revealed i) the presence of high content of lauric acid followed by myristic acid and palmitic acid in all oils and; ii) the significant (^*p< 0.05) different in anisidine- and peroxide-value, percentage of free fatty acid, total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity among the oils. The animal study demonstrated that all oil possess significant (^*p< 0.05) antiulcer activity with VCO_B being the most effective oil followed by VCO_A and CO. The macroscopic observations were supported by the microscopic findings. Interestingly, all oils were more effective than 100 mg/kg ranitidine (reference drug). In conclusion, coconut oils exert remarkable antiulcer activity depending on their methods of extraction, possibly via the modulation of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2017

Biocatalytic modification of natural resources can be used to generate novel compounds with specific properties, such as higher viscosity and reactivity. The production of hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs), originally found in low quantities in plants, is a good example of the biocatalytic modification of natural vegetable oils. HFAs show high potential for application in a wide range of industrial products, including resins, waxes, nylons, plastics, lubricants, cosmetics, and additives in coatings and paintings. In a recent study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PR3 was used to produce 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) from oleic acid. This present study focused primarily on the utilization of three natural nut oils obtained from the Philippines -pili nut oil (PNO), palm oil (PO), and virgin coconut oil (VCO)- to produce DOD by P. aeruginosa strain PR3. Strain PR3 produced DOD from PNO and PO only, with PNO being the more efficient substrate. An optimization study to achieve the maximum DOD yield from PNO revealed the optimal incubation time and medium pH to be 48 h and 8.0, respectively. Among the carbon sources tested, fructose was the most efficiently used, with a maximum DOD production of 130 mg/50 mL culture. Urea was the optimal nitrogen source, with a maximum product yield of 165 mg/50 mL culture. The results from this study demonstrated that PNO could be used as an efficient substrate for DOD production by microbial bioconversion.