Polyphenols of virgin coconut oil prevent pro-oxidant mediated cell death

Abstract

Virgin coconut oil (VCO), extracted from the fresh coconut kernel, is a food supplement enriched with medium chain saturated fatty acids and polyphenolic antioxidants. It is reported to have several health benefits including lipid lowering, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The pharmacological benefits of VCO have been attributed to its polyphenol content (VCOP), the mechanistic basis of which is less explored. Liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) analysis of VCOP documented the presence of gallic acid, ferulic acid (FA), quercetin, methyl catechin, dihydrokaempferol and myricetin glycoside. Pre-treatment of VCOP at different concentrations (25–100 μg/mL) significantly reduced the H₂O₂ and 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) induced cell death in HCT-15 cells. Giving further insight to its mechanistic basis, oxidative stress induced alterations in glutathione (GSH) levels and activities of GR (Glutathione–Reductase), GPx (Glutathione–Peroxidase), GST (Glutathione-S-Transferase) and catalase (CAT) were restored to near-normal by VCOP, concomitantly reducing lipid peroxidation. The efficacy of VCOP was similar to that of Trolox and FA added in culture. The study thus suggests that VCOP protects cells from pro-oxidant insults by modulating cellular antioxidant status.

Keywords:

• Antioxidant
• colon epithelial cells
• free radical
• oxidative stress
• virgin coconut oil polyphenol

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, Tamil Nadu, India for LC/MS analysis. Soorya P I and Arunaksharan N acknowledge the receipt of junior and senior research fellowships from Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (No. 01/FSHP-MAIN/2014/KSCSTE) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (File No. 09/869(0012)/2012 EMR-I).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was partially supported by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (No. 01/FSHP-MAIN/2014/KSCSTE) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (File No. 09/869(0012)/2012 EMR-I).