Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca and Cocos nucifera var. typica

Abstract

Inflammation, a response to injury or infection, involves swelling, pain and discomfort. Rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and even allergies fall under inflammatory diseases, which often results in connective tissue damage. Protein denaturation is a well-known cause of inflammation. In conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and cancer, inflammation is caused due to the denaturation of proteins. Common medications to manage inflammation, such as steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often cause side effects like stomach irritation and gastric ulcers. Current research is more focused on natural plant compounds due to the side effects associated with synthetic medications. Cocos nucifera a golden nut native to Sri Lanka, has attracted attention for its potential medicinal value. Recent studies on various plant species and their bioactive compounds have encouraged a reconsideration of conventional medicine. Natural compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, exhibit promising anti-inflammatory potential. The polyphenolic compounds derived from cocos nucifera, which exhibit antioxidant properties, are associated with numerous health benefits, including anti-again effects and the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This study examined the anti-inflammatory potential of Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca and Cocos nucifera var. typica extracts by employing a bioassay that measured the samples’ ability to inhibit egg albumin denaturation. The assay showed that aurantiaca and typica demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 0.60 mg mL-1 and 0.77 mg mL-1, respectively. The positive control aspirin exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 value of 0.55 mg mL-1. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was investigated using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. For the mass-based TPC values for aurantiaca and typica were respectively 12.72 ± 0.76 mg GAE g-1 and 7.422 ± 0.67 mg GAE g-1. A correlation between TPC and anti-inflammatory potential is observed. This study suggests that Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca and Cocos nucifera var. typica water has the potential as a natural source to inhibit protein denaturation, suggesting it could be a promising alternative for treating inflammatory diseases. However, further testing is needed to confirm its efficacy.