Enhanced memory in Wistar rats by virgin coconut oil is associated with increased antioxidative, cholinergic activities and reduced oxidative stress

Abstract

Context: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been reported to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties.Objective: Capitalizing on these therapeutic effects, this study investigated for the first time the potential of VCO on memory improvement in vivo.Materials and methods: Thirty male Wistar rats (7–8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = six per group). Treatment groups were administered with 1, 5 and 10 g/kg VCO for 31 days by oral gavages. The cognitive function of treated-rats were assessed using the Morris Water Maze Test. Brains were removed, homogenized and subjected to biochemical analyses of acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx)], lipid peroxidase [malondialdehyde (MDA)] as well as nitric oxide (NO). α-Tocopherol (αT; 150 mg/kg) was also included for comparison purposes.Results: VCO-fed Wistar rats exhibited significant (p < 0.05) improvement of cognitive functions [reduced escape latency (≥ 1.8 s), reduced escape distance (≥ 0.3 m) and increased total time spent on platform (≥ 1 s)]. The findings were accompanied by elevation of ACh (15%), SOD (8%), CAT (≥ 54%), GSH (≥ 20%) and GPx (≥ 12%) and reduction of AChE (≥17%), MDA (> 33%) and NO (≥ 34%). Overall, memory improvement by VCO was comparable to αT.Discussion and conclusion: VCO has the potential to be used as a memory enhancer, the effect of which was mediated, at least in part, through enhanced cholinergic activity, increased antioxidants level and reduced oxidative stress.

Moringa oleiferaseed oil or virgin coconut oil supplementation abrogates cerebral neurotoxicity induced by antineoplastic agent methotrexate by suppression of oxidative stress and neuro‐inflammation in rats

“…A growing body of evidence shows that VCO or MOO possesses antioxidant and pharmacological activities (Abarikwu, Benjamin, Ebah, Obilor, & Agbam, ; Famurewa et al, ). A recent investigation demonstrates that oral supplementation of VCO enhances memory and neuronal mechanisms and modulates oxidative stress in Wistar rats (Rahim, Lim, Mani, Majeed, & Ramasamy, ). VCO is produced from coconut by natural means devoid of chemical refining (Jaarin, Norliana, Kamisah, Nursyafiza, & Qodriyah, ; Marina, Che‐Man, Nazimah, & Amin, ).…”

“…It contains natural polyphenols known as strong inhibitors and/or scavengers of ROS and lipid peroxidation (Marina et al, ). VCO pharmacological effects are ascribed to its phenolic contents for modulating biological processes for beneficial health impact (Jaarin et al, ; Rahim et al, ).…”

Virgin coconut oil extract mitigates testicular‐induced toxicity of alcohol use in antiretroviral therapy

“…Our previous study also demonstrated the mitigating potential of VCO on HAART‐induced testicular ravages (Ogedengbe et al ., ). Other health benefits of VCO include neuroprotective and memory enhancing abilities (Rahim et al ., ), a cardioprotective potential (Kamisah et al ., ), antidiabetic capacity (Akinnuga et al ., ), hepatoprotective potential (Zakaria et al ., ), and ability to help reduce body weight (Gunasekaran et al ., ).…”

Adjuvant potential of virgin coconut oil extract on antiretroviral therapy-induced testicular toxicity: An ultrastructural study

“…Our previous work on the testicular histomorphology and seminal fluid parameters revealed that VCO mitigated HAART‐induced alterations in male Sprague‐Dawley rats (Ogedengbe et al., ). Accumulating evidence has also shown that VCO is effective in improving semen parameters (Dosumu et al., ), enhances insulin secretion, lower lipid levels in serum and tissues, and could alleviate other pathological conditions (Rahim et al., ).…”

“…Our previous study focusing on the testicular histomorphology and seminal fluid parameters demonstrated the ameliorative potential of VCO against the ravages induced by HAART (Ogedengbe et al., ). Studies have also acknowledged its neuroprotective and memory enhancing abilities (Rahim, Lim, Mani, Abdul Majeed, & Ramasamy, ), hepatoprotective potential, reduction of body weight (Gunasekaran et al., ) and its capacity to ease parturition as well as possible prevention of birth defects (Ab Rahman et al., ).…”