Non alcoholic palm nectar from Cocos nucifera as a promising nutraceutical preparation

Abstract

Nonalcoholic Palm Nectar from Cocos nucifera (NPNC), a bio-refresher obtained from the juvenile inflorescence of coconut palm; is prominent as a nutritional health drink. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional and medicinal properties of NPNC and its products; sugar (NPNCS) and honey (NPNCH). The collected samples were subjected to physicochemical evaluations such as pH, Titrable Acidity, Total Soluble Solids, and Ash value, using standard techniques. The analysis revealed the suitability of NPNC as a natural health drink over conventionally available beverage. The elemental compositions of the samples were determined by using Inductive Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and demonstrated that NPNCH is enriched with iron and NPNCS with calcium. Vitamin C present in the samples was determined by using 2,6-Dichlorophenol indophenol redox titration method. Hydrolysable polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids are determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, by Folin-Denis's technique and by aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. In NPNC, the dominance of Vitamin C as antioxidant is observed. Diuretic activity of samples was determined by Lipschitz method, and the results revealed that NPNC exhibited significant diuretic activity, comparable with furosemide. Immunomodulatory activities of the samples were evaluated by using indirect hemagglutination test and by using delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. NPNC, NPNCS, and NPNCH exhibited stimulatory effect on humoral and cell-mediated immunity, which is comparable with that of standard immunomodulator levamizole. Subacute toxicity studies of selected samples were done in Wistar rats and the results proved the boicompatibility of the samples without systemic toxic effects.Non alcoholic health drinks are often represented as "functional beverages" marketed along with sports drinks and nutraceuticals. These are marketed with an aim to improve stamina, energy, concentration, and performance of the individuals. But reports indicate that only temporary improvements in mental and physical stamina, fatigue, and subjective alertness can be achieved through the consumption of these energy drinks. Moreover, routine consumption of these drinks is reported to have negative impacts on health. As per reports, there is a close relationship observed with poor mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendency with the consumption of energy drinks. It is reported that the risk for depression is three times more in individuals who consume energy drinks more than once in a month when compared with those who do not consume such preparations as per a study in Canadian subjects (Ishak et al., 2012). Even the consumption of 350 ml of energy drinks with caffeine and sugar content is reported to elevate blood pressure in healthy subjects. Drinks with added sugar content are reported to be associated with obesity, increased blood glucose level, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and finally lead to Diabetes Mellitus (DM; Macdon...

Coconut: Nutritional and Industrial Significance

“…It is marketed in tetra-packs as a natural drink. The sap is nutritious [ 75 ]. Coconut syrup (treacle), coconut jaggery (a hard brown sweet mass) or crystalline coconut sugar is produced by concentrating the sap as cottage industries in coconut cultivating countries.…”

Coconut Palm: Food, Feed, and Nutraceutical Properties

“…The non-alcoholic palm nectar (NPNC) from Cocos nucifera can promote both cell-mediated and humoral immunity according to in vivo data on immune-modulatory activities. In addition, the samples had a hepatoprotective impact, particularly in the presence of increased liver enzymes [ 95 ]. The coconut palm’s juvenile inflorescence yields NPNC, which is a bio-refresher and raw material for a variety of value-added goods—including honey, syrup, jaggery, and sugar—made by boiling and thickening the fresh sap [ 96 ].…”