Evaluation of the use of Cocos nucifera as antimalarial remedy in Malaysian folk medicine |
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Authors: | Al-Adhroey Abdulelah H Nor Zurainee M Al-Mekhlafi Hesham M Amran Adel A Mahmud Rohela |
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Affiliation: | a Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia b Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
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Abstract: | Ethnopharmacological relevanceWhite flesh extract of Cocos nucifera (coconut) was studied to ascertain the ethnopharmacological standing of its antimalarial usage in Malaysian folk medicine.Materials and methodsThe crude methanol extract was investigated for phytochemical constituents and acute oral toxicity. Antimalarial activity of different extract doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were investigated in vivo against Plasmodium berghei (NK65) infections in mice during early, established and residual infections. Chloroquine (20 mg/kg) and pyrimethamine (1.2 mg/kg) were used as reference drugs.ResultsThe results revealed that the extract contained some phytochemical constituents and is toxicologically safe by oral administration. The extract significantly reduced the parasitaemia by the 200 and 400 mg/kg doses in the all three in vivo assessment assays. However, the extract did not significantly increase the survival time of the infected mice.ConclusionsThe observed pharmacological activities suggest that the Malaysian folkloric medicinal application of Cocos nucifera has a pharmacological basis. |
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Keywords: | Cocos nucifera Antimalarial activity Ethnopharmacological standing |
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