Abstract:
In this study, the effects of the consumption of Cocos nucifera water or oil on the ileal bacterial flora and the haematological parameters of Wistar albino rats were investigated. For the antibacterial effect, both the in vitro and in vivo assays were employed. In the in vitro assay, both the oil and water were assayed for antibacterial activity on the bacterial flora isolated from the ileum of apparently healthy Wistar albino rats using standard microbiological assays. For the in vivo assay on the other hand, apparently healthy Wistar albino rats were orogastrically administered either the water or oil or both over a period of 28 days and at 7 days interval, the population and types of bacterial flora in their ileum were assessed. The haematological parameters of the rats were also assessed using standard methods. Both coconut oil and water inhibited the growth of the bacterial flora isolated from the ileum of the rats with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 7.50±0.50mm to 23.00±2.00mm and 4.25±0.25mm to 19.00±1.00mm respectively. The growth inhibition exerted by both however was lower than that of the conventional antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) used as control, which ranged from 12.00±0.50mm to 42.50±2.50mm. In the in vivo assay, coconut oil reduced the population of the bacterial flora of the rats with the greatest effect on Escherichia coli from 2.39×106cfu/ml to 8.3×105cfu/ml while coconut water had minimal inhibitory activity on the bacterial load from 2.39×106cfu/ml to 1.23×106cfu/ml after 28 days of administration. The administration of either of the coconut water or oil on the other hand caused a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the PCV, RBC, WBC, Neutrophil counts within 28 days of this study with coconut water having higher effect. The in vitro and in vivo assays in this study showed that the administration of coconut water or oil to apparently healthy Wistar albino rats did not alter the types of bacterial flora in their ileum, and did not significantly (p≤0.05) affect the population of these bacteria during the first two weeks of administration. On the other hand, the administration of either coconut water or oil caused a significant (p≤0.05) increase in PCV and RBCs showing that they have haematinic potential with coconut water having a higher effect. Furthermore, the administration of either can boost the immune system because they have immunostimulatory potentials with coconut water also having the higher effect. However, an interval of 7 days is required before both haematinic and immunostimulatory potentials become apparent.
