Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities of virgin coconut oil

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Gas chromatogram of virgin cocnut oil (VCO).

Figure 2.  Effects of VCO and indomethacin on ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-induced ear edema in rats. Test drugs were applied on the outer and inner ear before EPP application; control received acetone only. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). Significantly different from control: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

Figure 3.  Effects of VCO and reference drugs on (A) carrageenin- and (B) arachidonic acid-induced hind paw edema in rats. Test drugs were orally administered 1 h before carrageenin injection; control received 5% Tween 80 only. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). Significantly different from control: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

Table 1.  Effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO), indomethacin, and prednisolone on transudative weight, granuloma formation, body weight gain, dry thymus weight, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats.

Group	Dose (mg/kg)	Transudative weight (mg)	Granuloma weight (mg/mg cotton)	GI (%)	Body weight gain (g)	Dry thymus weight (mg/100 g)	Serum ALP activity (U enzyme/mg serum protein × 10^−4)
Control	—	239.53 ± 16.26	1.70 ± 0.09	—	50.00 ± 2.83	48.75 ± 1.96	42.72 ± 3.92
Indomethacin	2.5	181.68 ± 10.68***	1.17 ± 0.11***	31.18	40.33 ± 1.09	33.38 ± 1.97***	32.60 ± 2.61**
Prednisolone	5	160.33 ± 1.98***	0.88 ± 0.05***	48.24	13.67 ± 4.86***	26.09 ± 2.44***	28.35 ± 1.11***
VCO	4000	196.13 ± 7.22**	1.32 ± 0.05*	22.35	41.33 ± 3.68	53.90 ± 3.19	33.78 ± 1.70*

Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6).

Significantly different from control: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

GI, granuloma inhibition; control received 5% Tween 80 only.

Figure 4.  Effects of VCO and indomethacin on acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. Test drugs were orally administered 1 h before 0.75% acetic acid injection; control received 5% Tween 80 only. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). Significantly different from control: ***p < 0.001

Figure 5.  Effects of VCO and ibuprofen on yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats. Test drugs were orally administered 18 h after yeast injection; control received 5% Tween 80 only. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 6). Significantly different from rectal temperature after yeast injection 18 h: **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.