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Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

Chapter · January 2021

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-4194-0_7

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Beenu Tanwar
Ankit Goyal Editors

Oilseeds: Health
Attributes
and Food
Applications
Contents

1 Soybean (Glycine max) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Rajni Modgil, Beenu Tanwar, Ankit Goyal, and Vikas Kumar
2 Rapeseed/Canola (Brassica napus) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Ankit Goyal, Beenu Tanwar, Manvesh Kumar Sihag, Vikas Kumar,
Vivek Sharma, and Suman Soni
3 Cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Manvesh Kumar Sihag, Ami Patel, and Vikas Kumar
4 Groundnut (Peanut) (Arachis hypogaea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Faiza Syed, Sania Arif, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Nauman Khalid
5 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Sakshi Khurana and Ravinder Singh
6 Palm/Palm Kernel (Elaeis guineensis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Shalini Sehgal and Vasudha Sharma
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Pankaj T. Parmar, Ashish Kumar Singh, and Sanket G. Borad
8 Mustard (Brassica nigra) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
H. K. S. De Zoysa and Viduranga Y. Waisundara
9 Olive (Olea europaea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Nicola Caporaso and Dimitrios Boskou
10 Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Sangita Ganguly, Narender Raju Panjagari,
and Rakesh Kumar Raman
11 Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Sibele Santos Fernandes, Carlos Prentice,
and Myriam de las Mercedes Salas-Mellado

vii
viii Contents

12 Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305

Loveleen Sharma, Charaniv Singh Saini, Sneh Punia, Vikash Nain,
and Kawaljit Singh Sandhu
13 Nigella (Nigella sativa) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Paras Sharma and T. Longvah
14 Borage (Borago officinalis) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Beenu Tanwar, Ankit Goyal, Vikas Kumar, Prasad Rasane,
and Manvesh Kumar Sihag
15 Hempseed (Cannabis sativa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Irshaan Syed, Sourav Garg, Saumya Agarwal, and Nupur Mohapatra
16 Rice (Oryza sativa) Bran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Upasana Yadav, Shalini Arora, and Isha Kaushik
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Misbah Nazir, Sania Arif, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Nauman Khalid
18 Camelina (Camelina sativa) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
Sushil K. Singh, Bipin Rajpurohit, and Poonam Singha
19 Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
Shraddha Adsul and Vaishali Madkaikar
20 Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507
Rudra Pratap Singh Rajput, N. Paramakrishnan,
and H. V. Gangadharappa
Chapter 7
Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

Pankaj T. Parmar, Ashish Kumar Singh, and Sanket G. Borad

Abstract This chapter is about the history, components, their health attributes, and
food applications of coconut. The exact origin of coconut is not known, but it was
believed to be more than 80 million years old. Asia, especially south India is leading
the coconut production in the world. The fruit is made up of exocarp, mesocarp,
endocarp, testa, and at the center coconut water surrounded by the kernel. The
coconut water is a rich source of minerals and used as energy drink, especially for
athletes. The kernel part is an abundant source of vitamins, phytochemicals, protein,
carbohydrate, and fat – rich in saturated fat, medium-chain triglycerides, MUFA, and
PUFA. The presence of large amounts and variety of phytochemicals especially
lauric acid and α-tocopherol makes coconut a potential fruit for the treatment of a
wide range of ailments such as inflammation, cholera, oral carries, diabetes, skin
infection, hypertension, cancer, CVD, obesity, and many more. Coconut comes in
the top five food allergens in India. It’s food applications include bakery products,
confectionery products, chocolate making, and frozen desserts manufacture, while
non-food applications include soap making, pharmaceutical products, cos-
metics products, and biodiesel manufacture. Coconut has a broad scope in food
and non-food applications, and it has to be studied, tried, and implemented for the
wellness of mankind.

Keywords Cocos nucifera · Health attributes · Phytonutrients · Saturated fat ·

Testa · Virgin coconut oil

P. T. Parmar (*)
Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Anand,
Gujarat, India
A. K. Singh
Dairy Technology Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
S. G. Borad
Havmor Ice cream Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021 163

B. Tanwar, A. Goyal (eds.), Oilseeds: Health Attributes and Food Applications,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4194-0_7
164 P. T. Parmar et al.

7.1 Origin and History

The origin of coconut is believed to be as old as 80 million years which could be due
to the landmass of the Southern Hemisphere, Gondwana. The displacement of
earth’s tectonic plates moved the land surfaces which comprise Australia, North
and northeast New Zealand, Madagascar, Africa, Southern America, and South
Asian countries especially India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Humans started using
this extraordinary fruit half a million years ago even though the exact time of first use
is still unknown. About 4000 years ago, colonizing mariners began moving east-
wards from the coast of Southeast Asia to the islands of the South Pacific, extending
10,000 km from New Guinea to Tahiti and also to southern India and Sri Lanka.
More than 2000 years ago, the traders carried coconut from islands on their journey
towards home islands which comprises Indonesia in the present era. Coconut’s
voyage towards the Indian Ocean to Madagascar and then to East Africa is assumed
to be started by the people of Borneo.
If we talk about recent times, in 1498, Portuguese mariners, starting with Vasco
da Gama, took the coconut from India and East Africa to the tropical eastern
Atlantic. Westwards, coconuts were food and drink sources on slave trading ships
traveling to Cuba and other islands. Eastwards, they were spread from the Cape
Verde Islands to the coast of West Africa, from Senegal to Angola. Before these
interesting events, West African people were using local forest palm oil as a food
ingredient. Its easy planting and management got it dispersed in Caribbean islands.
Before coconuts were discovered by European mariners, they were already growing
on coasts of Pacific and nearby islands. With the completion of the planting of
coconut palm in the Caribbean in the sixteenth century, its journey towards the globe
was completed. This makes it the most widespread and widely used palm in the
world. Modern coconut palm shows diversity in its size, shape, and appearance. The
coconut fruit color ranges from dark to light brown to light dark green, orange, and
yellow. Humans selected this ancestral fruit for pleasure and profit. It has been
selected due to its attractive color and thinner husk and for increased nut diameter.

7.2 Production

Coconuts grow into a palm under suitable conditions and start fruiting after 3 years.
On the ancient palm, the fruits are usually in a bunch and the bunch may contain up
to 12 nuts at a time. The dried kernel of coconut is called copra which is used for the
production of coconut oil. Asia, Central and South America, and the Pacific islands
are the leaders in coconut production as they share 97.3% of the global coconut
production. India is the leader in coconut production with 24.4 million coconut units
per year followed by Indonesia and the Philippines. In 2013, the global coconut
production was estimated to be 73.81 million coconuts or 2,896,709 MT of copra
equivalent (Chan 2016).
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 165

7.3 Chemical Composition

The coconut fruit is composed of five parts (Fig. 7.1). The refreshing and highly
nutritious coconut water is in the center of the coconut surrounded by five parts, i.e.,
kernel (coconut meat), testa, endocarp, mesocarp, and exocarp (inside out). The fruit
is usually ovoid in shape, and the bunch of coconuts grows monthly. A single unit of
coconut can grow up to 2 kg. The main products of coconut are coconut water and
coconut kernel.

7.3.1 Coconut Water

The proximate composition of coconut water of the Malayan Tall coconuts is

presented in Table 7.1.

Fig. 7.1 Different parts of the coconut (Chan 2016)

166 P. T. Parmar et al.

Table 7.1 Proximate composition of coconut water

Maturity stage (months)
5–6 8–9
12
Physico-chemical properties (Immature) (Mature) (Overly mature)
Volume of water (mL) 684  27.0 518  14.20 332  19.90
Total soluble solids (TSS) ( brix) 5.60  0.14 6.15  0.21 4.85  0.17
Titratable acidity (% malic acid) 0.09  0.004 0.08  0.01 0.06  0.00
pH 4.78  0.13 5.34  0.12 5.71  0.10
Turbidity 0.03  0.013 0.34  0.11 4.05  0.32
Sugar content
Fructose (mg/mL) 39.04  0.82 32.52  0.23 21.48  0.21
Glucose (mg/mL) 35.43  0.51 29.96  0.24 19.06  0.19
Sucrose (mg/mL) 0.85  0.01 6.36  0.06 14.37  0.25
Minerals
Potassium (mg/100 mL) 220.94  0.32 274.32  0.14 35.11  0.13
Sodium (mg/100 mL) 7.61  0.04 5.60  0.02 36.51  0.02
Magnesium (mg/100 mL) 22.03  0.07 20.87  0.02 31.65  0.04
Calcium (mg/100 mL) 8.75  0.05 15.19  0.03 23.98  0.05
Iron (mg/L) 0.29  0.08 0.308  0.01 0.32  0.05
Protein (mg/mL) 0.04  0.01 0.042  0.00 0.22  0.02
Total phenolic content (mg GAE/L) 54.00  3.14 42.59  0.83 25.70  1.76
Source: Tan et al. (2014)

7.3.1.1 Total Soluble Solids

Total soluble solids (TSS) indicate the richness of a liquid substance. It is found to be
the highest in mature coconuts. TSS content of coconut water increases in the early
months of maturing followed by a gradual decrease (Jackson et al. 2004).

7.3.1.2 Carbohydrates

Principal sugars present in coconut are fructose, glucose, and sucrose which impart
sweetness to the coconut and its products like coconut water, coconut milk, coconut
cream, and coconut beverages (Campbell-Falck et al. 2000). Fructose is highest in
coconut water followed by glucose and sucrose (Table 7.1). The sucrose content can
reach up to as high as 90% of the total sugar content of coconut water (Solangi and
Iqbal 2011). It is evident from Table 7.1 that sucrose content of coconut water within
the fruit increases with time which could be due to the formation of sucrose, a
non-reducing sugar at an expense of monosaccharides, glucose, and fructose.
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 167

7.3.1.3 Proteins

Coconut water is not a rich source of protein (Table 7.1), but it should not be
neglected. The presence of free amino acids such as lysine, tryptophan, glutamic
acid, alanine, glycine, and aspartic acid along with reducing sugars may trigger
Maillard reaction during its thermal processing for preparation of ready-to-drink
coconut water. Maillard reaction in coconut water can lead to browning or discol-
oration of coconut water and subsequent impaired sensory properties (Jayalekshmy
and Mathew 1990).

7.3.1.4 Vitamins

Vitamins are very essential for a better healthy life. They are complex compounds
and are not synthesized in the human body. Coconut water is a rich source of water-
soluble vitamins particularly ascorbic acid (vitamin C), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,
pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folic acid.

7.3.1.5 Minerals

Generally, coconut water is rich in potassium and low in sodium content. The
presence of magnesium, calcium, and iron though in a lesser amount than potassium
and sodium makes it a better replacement of sports drinks as it helps in fulfilling the
loss of electrolytes lost during exercise (Saat et al. 2002). More evident from
Table 7.1 is that coconut water of matured fruit has a more balanced mineral content
than immature one which makes the former suitable replacement of rehydration and
sports drinks.

7.3.1.6 Total Phenolic Content (TPC)

Aging causes changes in the total phenolic content of coconut water as well
(Table 7.1). As coconut fruit ages, its TPC content decreases which is the measure
of antioxidant properties. The reduction of TPC content coconut water reduces its
free radical scavenging ability (Mantena et al. 2003).

7.3.1.7 Titratable Acidity and pH

The titratable acidity of coconut water is expressed as percentage malic acid as it is

the major organic acid present in coconut water. Titratable acidity of coconut water
decreases with time (Jackson et al. 2004; Terdwongworakul et al. 2009). Similarly,
as the maturity time of coconut progresses, pH also increases (Table 7.1).
168 P. T. Parmar et al.

7.3.2 Coconut Kernel

Coconut kernel also called coconut meat is the endosperm of the fruit covered by a
brown-colored layer called testa. Generally, the dried coconut kernel is used for the
extraction of coconut oil. The virgin coconut oil is the one that is extracted from
dried kernel or copra and doesn’t go any chemical refining process. The percentage
oil in the kernel is the measure of the richness of coconut kernel. The weight of
different parts of coconut at various stages of maturity is presented in Table 7.2.
The proximate composition of copra and coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.3
which includes percentage fat, protein, carbohydrates, ash, crude fiber, and moisture
content.
It is evident from Table 7.3 that moisture content is highest in CW among copra
parts, while in wet parts like WCW, WCWK, and WCT, it is highest in WCWK. The
rest are discussed hereunder.

7.3.2.1 Carbohydrates

The main constituent of coconut kernel and testa has always been carbohydrate, and
it is clearly evident from Table 7.3. The carbohydrate content of copra parts is
almost double as the amount present in the wet kernel.

Table 7.2 Weight of differ- Coconut maturity (months)

ent parts of coconut at various
Parts (gm) 7 9 12 15
stages of maturity
Husk 1190.0 740.0 518.5 269.0
Shell 140.0 189.1 156.6 134.3
Kernel/meat 20.3 180.5 244.5 160.5
Water 425.0 255.0 165.0 35.0
Total 1775.3 1365.0 1084.6 598.7
Source: Banzon and Velasco (1982)

Table 7.3 Proximate composition of copra and coconut kernel

Content (%)
Sample Moisture Fat Protein Carbohydrates Crude fiber Ash
CW 4.3 59.8 10.2 24.3 7.0 1.4
CWK 3.8 63.6 8.1 22.4 6.6 2.1
CT 4.0 59.0 9.3 26.3 11.6 1.4
WCW 42.2 37.0 7.5 12.3 14.3 1.0
WCWK 43.5 38.8 6.2 10.6 11.7 0.9
WCT 32.9 34.7 7.1 24.6 17.2 0.7
Source: Appaiah et al. (2014)
CW Copra whole, CWK copra white kernel, CT copra testa, WCW wet coconut whole, WCWK wet
coconut white kernel, WCT wet coconut testa
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 169

7.3.2.2 Proteins

Coconut kernel is rich in protein too, though not as high as carbohydrate and fat
content, but still a considerably high. The protein content of the dried kernel is
ranging from 8.1 to 10.2, while the wet kernel is 6.2 to 7.5.

7.3.2.3 Lipids

The fat content of the copra part is in the range of 59.0–63.6 while that of the wet
kernel is 34.7–38.8. It is highest in CWK among all six parts. The fatty acid
composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel is presented in
Table 7.4.
Caprylic and capric acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT are lesser
than the other samples (Table 7.4). Lauric acid is the major fatty acid present in
coconut which can be easily observed from Table 7.4 as it is present in the highest
amount than other fatty acids. Here oils extracted from CT and WCT contain lesser
amount of lauric acid than CW, CWK, WCW, and WCWK. However, myristic,
palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid content of oils extracted from CT and WCT is
higher than other parts of coconut kernel and testa. The stearic acid content of oils
extracted from copra is in the range of 1.1–1.9, while that of wet coconut parts is
1.2–2.3. Coconut is the richest in SFA content of oils extracted from coconut kernel
and testa as it is ranging from 82.5 to 94.6 for copra and 71.6 to 92.7 for oils
extracted from wet coconut parts. MUFA and PUFA content of oils extracted from
coconut follow similar trends as of myristic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid since

Table 7.4 Fatty acid composition of oils extracted from copra and coconut kernel
Fatty acids (%) CW CWK CT WCW WCWK WCT
Caprylic acid (C8:0) 9.6 6.7 3.9 8.1 5.6 1.6
Capric acid (C10:0) 6.4 6.2 3.8 7.8 5.8 2.2
Lauric acid (C12:0) 51.5 52.6 40.9 50.5 52.8 32.4
Myristic acid (C14:0) 19.1 18.9 20.9 16.1 19.2 20.2
Palmitic acid (C16:0) 6.9 7.4 11.3 6.8 7.4 14.1
Stearic acid (C18:0) 1.1 1.9 1.6 2.3 1.9 1.2
Oleic acid (C18:1) 4.3 4.8 12.2 5.6 5.5 17.8
Linoleic acid (C18:2) 1.1 1.6 5.3 1.8 1.0 10.6
SFA 94.6 93.7 82.5 92.6 92.7 71.6
MUFA 4.3 4.8 12.2 5.6 5.5 17.8
PUFA 1.1 1.6 5.3 1.8 1.0 10.6
MCFA 67.5 65.5 48.3 66.3 64.2 36.2
Source: Appaiah et al. (2014)
SFA Saturated fatty acid, MUFA monounsaturated fatty acid, PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid,
MCFA medium-chain fatty acid, CW Copra whole, CWK copra white kernel, CT copra testa, WCW
wet coconut whole, WCWK wet coconut white kernel, WCT wet coconut testa
170 P. T. Parmar et al.

CT and WCT contain a higher amount of MUFA and PUFA than that of CW, CWK,
WCW, and WCWK. Oils extracted from copra and wet coconut testa are poor in
MCFA content than other parts. The composition of oils extracted from the whole
coconut kernel is in accordance with the results obtained by Bhatnagar et al. (2009).

7.3.2.4 Crude Fiber

The crude fiber content of copra is lesser than the wet kernel which is evident from
Table 7.3. It was in the range of 6.6–11.6% for copra, while that of the wet kernel, it
was in the range of 11.7–17.2. Coconut testa is richer in crude fiber than dried kernel
and whole wet coconut which is the reason behind high fiber values of CT and WCT
which is 11.6% and 17.2%, respectively. A healthy coconut kernel should have a
good amount of crude fiber which is around 13.13% (Rao et al. 1998).

7.3.2.5 Proteins

Coconut kernel contains 5–10% protein. It is a mixture of essential, non-essential,

and conditionally essential amino acids. The amino acid composition of fresh
coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.5. According to USDA, the amino acids
which cannot be synthesized are called essential amino acids, and therefore they
should be supplemented in the human diet. Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine are the examples of
essential amino acids. Those amino acids which can be synthesized from their
precursors, usually essential amino acids, are called non-essential amino acids.
Alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, and serine are examples of
non-essential amino acids. Those amino acids that can be synthesized under regular
conditions, in the human body when the body feels relaxed are called the conditional

Table 7.5 Amino acid composition of fresh coconut kernel

Vitamin Content (g/100 g fresh kernel) Vitamin Content (g/100 g fresh kernel)
Essential amino acids Non-essential amino acids
Tryptophan 0.039 Alanine 0.170
Threonine 0.121 Aspartic acid 0.325
Isoleucine 0.131 Glutamic acid 0.761
Leucine 0.247 Serine 0.172
Lysine 0.147 Conditional essential amino acids
Methionine 0.062 Arginine 0.546
Phenylalanine 0.169 Cystine 0.066
Valine 0.202 Glycine 0.158
Histidine 0.077 Proline 0.138
Tyrosine 0.103
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database (2019)
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 171

essential amino acids, e.g., arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, proline, and
tyrosine.

7.3.2.6 Vitamins

Matured fruit kernel is a source of both water and oil-soluble vitamins which are
presented in Table 7.6. Among water-soluble vitamins present in matured coconut
kernel, ascorbic acid is the major one which is present in highest proportion (3.3 mg/
100 g fresh kernel) followed by niacin (0.540), pantothenic acid (0.300), thiamine
(0.066), pyridoxine (0.054), folate (0.026), and riboflavin (0.020). There are only
two oil-soluble vitamins present in coconut oil extracted from matured coconut
kernel, i.e., α-tocopherol (0.24 mg/100 g fresh kernel) and phylloquinone
(0.20 μg/100 g fresh kernel).

7.3.2.7 Minerals

The mineral composition of copra and coconut kernel is presented in Table 7.7.
Coconut kernel is a rich source of potassium followed by sodium, calcium, iron, and
zinc. CW, CWK, CT, WCW, WCWK, and WCT have 120.3, 124.1, 120.3, 122.1,
123.8, and 107.8 mg of potassium per 100 g, respectively. Sodium, calcium, iron,
and zinc are in the range of 15.5–29.8, 14.0–18.1, 1.5–7.9, and 1.6–3.0 mg/100 g.
Similar observations were reported by Solangi et al. (2011).

Table 7.6 Vitamin content of matured coconut kernel

Vitamin Unit Content (Per 100 g fresh kernel)
Water-soluble vitamins
Thiamin (B1) mg 0.066
Riboflavin (B2) mg 0.020
Niacin (B3) mg 0.540
Pantothenic acid (B5) mg 0.300
Pyridoxine (B6) mg 0.054
Folate mg 0.026
Ascorbic acid (C) mg 3.3
Oil-soluble vitamins
α-Tocopherol (E) mg 0.24
Phylloquinone (K) μg 0.20
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database (2019)
172 P. T. Parmar et al.

Table 7.7 Mineral composi- Minerals (mg/100 g)

tion of copra and coconut
Samples K Na Ca Fe Zn
kernel
CW 120.3 15.5 14.6 7.9 2.9
CWK 124.1 21.0 18.1 3.2 1.6
CT 120.3 22.4 17.0 6.2 3.0
WCW 122.1 21.6 18.1 7.9 2.2
WCWK 123.8 20.3 14.0 1.5 1.8
WCT 107.8 29.8 16.7 1.9 1.6
Source: Appaiah et al. (2014)
K Potassium, Na sodium, Ca calcium, Fe iron, Zn zinc

7.4 Phytonutrients

Coconut has an abundant amount of phytonutrients present in it. The ethanolic

extract of coconut mesocarp shown the presence of a range of phytonutrients such
as tannins, phenols, flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, leucoanthocyanidins, and alka-
loids (Matos 1997), while butanol extract revealed the presence of saponins, con-
densed tannins, and triterpenes (Costa et al. 2010). A different part of the coconut
tree, as well as fruit, contains a good amount of phytochemicals such as coconut oil
which is a rich source of lauric acid (Tangwatcharin and Khopaibool 2012) and
α-tocopherol (Arlee et al. 2013). Liquid albumen of coconut fruit has an adequate
amount of ascorbic acid (Yong et al. 2009) and L-arginine (Yong et al. 2009; Salil
and Rajamohan 2001). Coconut leaves (epicuticular wax) are rich in lupeol-
methylether, skimmiwalin, and iso- skimmiwalin (Erosa et al. 2002). The roots of
the palm contain saponins (Pal et al. 2011), while coconut fiber contains catechins
(Matos 1997; Freitas et al. 2011). Coconut fiber root inflorescence is rich in
flavonoids (Matos 1997; Pal et al. 2011; Renjith et al. 2013), and coconut fiber
inflorescence contains tannins (Freitas et al. 2011; Renjith et al. 2013).

7.5 Health Attributes

Various researchers have exploited the health benefits of the tropical palm over the
years. It has got many health-promoting applications. The traditional uses of coconut
in the treatment of various diseases are presented in Table 7.8.
Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the active ingredients present
in coconut and their health attributes. Some of the important pharmacological
activities of active molecules present in coconut are explained hereunder.
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 173

Table 7.8 Traditional uses of coconut in treatment of various diseases

Coconut part Preparation Use Country Reference
Shell fiber Tea Diarrhea Brazil Esquenazi et al.
(2002)
Amenorrhea Haiti Weniger et al. (1986)
Venereal diseases Trinidad Wong (1976)
treatment
Extract Antipyretic, kidney Guatemala Caceres et al. (1987)
inflammation
Diuretics, gonorrhea Peru Ramirez et al. (1988)
treatment
Urogenital inflammation Mexico Calzada et al. (2007)
caused by Trichomonas
vaginalis
Amenorrhea, Trinidad Wong (1976)
dysmenorrhea
Diabetes treatment Jamaica Morrison (1994),
Mitchell and Ahmad
(2006)
Asthma treatment Haiti, Peru Hope et al. (1993),
Ramirez et al. (1988)
Cream Abscesses, dermatitis Guatemala Caceres et al. (1987)
treatment, and injuries
Burns Haiti Weniger et al. (1986)
Root Tea Diarrhea and stomach Papua New Holdsworth and
pains Guinea Wamoi (1982),
Holdsworth (1992)
Extract Antipyretic, diarrhea Indonesia Brondegaard (1973)
treatment
Coconut Oil Preventing hair loss, Fiji, Singh (1986), Sachs
pulp (solid wound healing Indonesia et al. (2002)
albumen) Milk Diarrhea treatment Ghana Yartey et al. (1993)
Oral contraceptive Indonesia Hirschhorn (1983)
Pulp Aphrodisiac Mozambique Amico (1977)
Relief to rashes caused by Kenya Nagata et al. (2011)
HIV-AIDS infections
A decoc- Treatment of fever and Malaysia Al-Adhroey et al.
tion of the malaria (2011)
pulp
Coconut Water Treatment of renal Fiji Singh (1986)
water diseases
inflorescence Tea Treatment of changes in India Bhandary et al. (1995)
the menstrual cycle
Source: Lima et al. (2015)
174 P. T. Parmar et al.

7.5.1 Anti-atherosclerotic Effect

Atherosclerosis, a phenomenon generally induced by Chlamydia pneumonia, plays a

major role in initiating an inflammatory process that oxidizes lipoproteins with the
induction of cytokines and the production of proteolytic enzymes (Enig 2004).
Esquenazi et al. (2002) observed the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of coconut
husk fiber against acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV), and the responsi-
ble components would be catechins, epicatechins, and tannins. Almost all the HSVs
are believed to be destroyed by monoglycerides (MG) and fatty acids ranging from
C6 to C14 which constitutes around 80% of fatty acids and MGs present in
coconut oil.

7.5.2 Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antiviral Effect

Tender coconut water (TCW) is preferred in the treatment of cholera because of its
saline and albumen content (Effiong et al. 2010). MCFA found in coconut especially
lauric acid and its derivatives are effective in killing bacteria consisting of lipid
membranes as it breaks down their lipid membrane. They are also effective against
bacteria that cause gastric ulcers, food poisoning, dental caries, and infection in the
urinary tract.
The comparison of aqueous, ethanolic, and dry distilled extracts of coconut
endocarp with gentamicin and ciprofloxacin for their antimicrobial activity showed
a strong antimicrobial effect against S. aureus, M. luteus, B. subtilis, and
P. aeruginosa (Nagata et al. 2011). The dry distilled extract was effective against
R. oligosporus at 10, 50, 100, and 300 μg/disc (Singla et al. 2011). Verma et al.
(2012) studied the antimicrobial activity of coconut mesocarp powder against E. coli
and S. typhi by extracting them in ethanol, chloroform, diethyl ether, benzene,
acetone, and formaldehyde. They noticed the highest antimicrobial activity against
E. coli with benzene while diethyl ether for S. typhi. The identified components
present in coconut mesocarp responsible for antimicrobial activity against these two
pathogens were β-sitosterol, cycloartenol, alcohol palmitoyl, and tocopherol.
Esquenazi et al. (2002) conducted trials for the antimicrobial study using crude
extract and TLC fractions (I-V) of coconut mesocarp fiber, and TLC fractions II–V
were analyzed against S. aureus. Antifungal activity was tested against Cryptococ-
cus neoformans or Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Candida albicans by checking their
growth inhibition. Furthermore, antiviral activity was checked with crude extract and
only TLC fraction-II. It was observed that all three effects were exhibited by
catechins and condensed tannins coconut itself and thereby in extracts especially
fraction II. The MCSFA present in coconut oil is very effective against viruses
especially cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and visna virus, and it is achieved by
the destruction of their cell wall membranes and thereby interfering in viral matu-
ration (Arora et al. 2011).
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 175

7.5.3 Anticaries Effect

Traditionally, a decoction prepared from coconut tree roots is being used for
mouthwash and gargling to reduce the risk of dental caries. Since the use of the
aqueous extract of coconut husk fiber does not prompt any ocular or dermic
reactions, it could be a potential substitute for drugs used to treat oral diseases
(Alviano et al. 2008). Mouth sores can be treated by coconut flour as coconut is
rich in lauric acid, and it is already being used for oral treatments (Taheri et al. 2010).
Coconut contains sucrose monolaurate which is a potential anticaries substance since
it reduces glycolysis and oxidation of sucrose caused by Streptococcus mutans.
Therefore, it can be used to treat dental plaque. Soap prepared using coconut was
used along with sodium hypochlorite solution (0.05%) in the treatment of stomatitis
and denture biofilm (Barnabé et al. 2004).

7.5.4 Antidiabetic Effect

Diabetes mellitus became a prominent disease in the past few decades due to a
drastic change in food habits as well as reduced physical activity. Diabetes is
characterized by deviations in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism due to
complete or relative insufficiency of insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells and/or
defects in insulin action (Unger and Foster 1998). The protein present in coconut
kernel exhibits antidiabetic activity, and that can be backed by three mechanisms
exhibited as a result of action of coconut kernel protein, viz., increase in glycogen
and insulin level and reduction in serum glucose level, efficient degradation of
carbohydrate by β-D-galactosidase, and inhibitory action of arginine on regeneration
of β-pancreatic cells resulting in increased insulin secretion and subsequent increase
in glycogen level in blood serum (Salil et al. 2011).
Preetha et al. (2014) studied the effects of mature coconut water on alloxan-
induced diabetes in rats and observed reduced blood glucose level and lipid level in
blood and tissues and reduction inactivity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme
A (HMG CoA). In a study to assess antidiabetic effects of coconut inflorescence on
streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats, Renjith et al. (2013)
observed that a dose of methanolic extract of coconut inflorescence at 200 mg/kg
body weight was effective in reducing streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats which
could be due to arginine, leucine, isoleucine, polyphenols, and dietary fibers present
in coconut itself.
176 P. T. Parmar et al.

7.5.5 Antidermatophytic

Coconut oil is being used since centuries as moisturizer in different parts of the
world. In a double-blind study conducted by Agero and Verallo-Rowell (2004) for
the moisturizing effect of extra virgin coconut oil on the skin surface for mild to
more xerosis and observed a significant improvement in skin hydration and
increased lipid level of the skin surface. Monolaurin is a derivative of lauric acid
which is a major fatty acid present in coconut kernel and has been investigated for its
in vitro antibacterial activity against skin infection-causing organisms by Carpo et al.
(2007), and they observed no resistance of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
isolated from superficial skin infections. Another study of VCO and monolaurin on
atopic dermatitis in adults showed broad-spectrum activity against S. aureus, fungi,
and viruses which can be useful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis colonization in
humans (Verallo-Rowell et al. 2008).

7.5.6 Antihypertensive Effect

Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure above 140 mm of Hg or diastolic

blood pressure above 90 mm of Hg and is a major growing health problem across the
globe (Go 2013; Go et al. 2013), Weber et al. (2014), Mancia et al. (2013)). Phenolic
compounds present in plants especially flavonoids are known for their effectiveness
against hypertension (Perez-Vizcaino et al. 2009). Bankar et al. (2011) studied the
antihypertensive activity of an ethanolic extract of coconut endocarp was studied in
the deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced rats and observed a significant reduc-
tion in blood pressure of model rats which could be attributed to the activation of
nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase pathway as well as presence of flavonoids in the
ethanolic extract prepared from coconut endocarp.

7.5.7 Anti-inflammatory Effect

A decoction of coconut husk fiber is widely used traditionally in Brazil for the
treatment of arthritis and diarrhea (Esquenazi et al. 2002). Silva et al. (2013)
conducted a study on anti-inflammatory effect of coconut husk fiber extract on
carrageenan, histamine, and serotonin-induced rat paw edema and reported that
crude extract significantly reduced rat paw edema induced by histamine (150 mg/
kg) and serotonin (100 and 150 mg/kg). Fraction 1 (molecular weight lesser than
1 kDa, 1, 10, and 50 mg/kg) also had significant inhibitory effect on histamine and
serotonin-induced edema which may be due to inhibitory effect of husk fiber extract
through either formation or liberation of inflammatory mediators such as serotonin,
histamine, and bradykinin or by direct blocking of receptors.
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 177

7.5.8 Antineoplastic Effect

Koschek et al. (2007) studied the anti-neoplastic activity of coconut husk fiber on
human leukemia cells K562 and Lucena 1, by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-
diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cells were treated against MTT at
concentrations of 0, 5, 50, or 500 μg/mL for 48 h. The results showed antitumoral
activity against both leukemia cells K562 and Lucena 1. The variety used in the
study is grown extensively in Brazil, and the husk is usually thrown away as waste
which can be a potential economical source to prepare antineoplastic drugs as well as
solves environmental problems.

7.5.9 Antioxidant Effect

Free radicals are continuously produced in the human body and are causing tissue
damage in many diseases (Levy et al. 1998). The free radicals break phospholipids
present in cell membranes and initiate lipid peroxidation (Ferrari et al. 1992), and it
could lead to atherosclerosis (Eder and Kirchgessner 1997). Apart from this, they
can degrade enzymes, DNA that can lead to cancer (Parthasarathy et al. 1998).
L-arginine and ascorbic acid present in TCW hasveantioxidant activity (Loki and
Rajamohan 2003). VCO showed efficient antioxidant activity in Sprague-Dawley
rats (Nevin and Rajamohan 2006).
The total phenolic content of virgin coconut oil is almost seven times that of
commercial coconut oil as the oil refining process destroys many of the biologically
active components (Seneviratne and Dissanayake 2008) which was evident from the
1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test too (Marina et al. 2009). DPPH radical
scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging, and alkaline dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO) analysis of C. nucifera endocarp extracts showed strong antioxidant
activity.
Coconut water has a good antioxidant activity which was evaluated by adminis-
tering it in a dose of 6 mL/100 g of body weight to female rats intoxicated with
carbon tetrachloride, and results revealed that lipid peroxidation decreased and
antioxidant enzymes improved their antioxidant power (Loki and Rajamohan
2003). In general, different parts of coconut contain flavonoids and phenolic com-
pounds which showed potential antioxidant activity.

7.5.10 Antiparasitic Effect

Costa et al. (2010) studied the antihelminthic activity of aqueous and butanol extract
of green coconut bark on mouse intestinal nematodes. In this study naturally infected
mice were distributed into six groups as follows: group I (1000 mg/kg) aqueous
178 P. T. Parmar et al.

extract; group II (2000 mg/kg) aqueous extract; group III (500 mg/kg) of butanol
extract; group IV (1000 mg/kg) of butanol extract; group V (0.56 mg/kg)
febendazole; and group VI (3% dimethylsulfoxide). Among all the extracts, only
butanol extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg showed an efficiency of 62.72% and 98.36%,
respectively (P < 0.05). They also studied the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of the
aqueous and butanolic extract of the coconut husk against Haemonchus contortus. In
egg hatching and larval development tests, 2.5 mg/mL aqueous and 10 mg/mL
butanolic extract showed 100% ovicidal activity, while larvicidal effects were
81.30% and 99.80% at 65 and 80 mg/mL, respectively. These results suggest that
different parts of coconut can be used to treat gastrointestinal nematodes, and more
studies are needed to evaluate their potential in humans.

7.5.11 Antithrombotic Effect

Virgin coconut oil has better antithrombotic activity than copra oil (Nevin and
Rajamohan 2008). As compared to high MUFA and PUFA diet, a high SFA diet
helps in lowering the postprandial tissue plasminogen activator antigen concentra-
tion and that affects the lipoprotein A concentration and fibrinolytic system as well.
Coconut oil is a rich source of SFA, if included in the diet, it can have a good
antithrombotic effect as dietary SFA has more lipoprotein A lowering capacity than
percentage saturated fat energy (Muller et al. 2003).

7.5.12 Cardioprotective Effect

As discussed earlier in this chapter, coconut has an abundant amount of MCFA

(Table 7.4) which is directly absorbed in the intestine and goes to the liver for energy
generation and, therefore, does not take part in cholesterol biosynthesis and transport
(Enig 2004). Coconut water is a rich source of potassium which possesses
cardioprotective effect in myocardial infarction. Nevin and Rajamohan (2004)
reported a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a significant decrease in
LDL cholesterol levels of Male Sprague-Dawley rats when fed with VCO diet.
Polyphenols present in VCO prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol in vitro.
Cardioprotective activity of coconut water was evaluated in rats by inducing
myocardial infarction using isoproterenol. The study revealed that feeding of tender
coconut water to experimental animals reduced the myocardial infarction and mito-
chondrial lipid peroxidation (Rajamohan and Anurag 2003). It can reduce VLDL,
LDL, TGs, and total cholesterol levels in blood serum which is evident from the
findings of Sandhya and Rajamohan (2006) who reported a reduction of these
components in rats when they were fed with coconut water at the rate of 4 mL/
100 g body weight. Feeding of dietary coconut sprout of West Coast Tall variety to
the rats having an isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction (Chikku and
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 179

Rajamohan 2012) showed decreased levels of CK-MB and troponin-T (a cardiac

marker) in serum when rats were fed with the sprouts at 50, 100, or 200 mg/100 g
body weight for 45 days. Furthermore, it reduced oxidative stress in the heart and
improved antioxidant status which could be due to the presence of polyphenols,
vitamins, and alkaloids in coconut. These results suggest that coconut can be used to
treat dyslipidemia in humans too.

7.5.13 Hepatoprotective Effect

Hepatotoxicity is a covalent bonding of toxic intermediates and hepatocytes which

causes centrilobular hepatic necrosis or lipid peroxidation as well as thiol group
oxidation. A study on the effect of TCW on CCl4 induced liver injury in female rats
showed no necrosis or any fatty infiltration (Loki and Rajamohan 2003). This is the
sole report that states the hepatoprotective effect of coconut water which generates
the need for further study to discover the role of the coconut in the same.

7.5.14 Hypolipidemic Effect

VCO has the ability to reduce lipid oxidation (Nevin and Rajamohan 2008). L-
arginine is a prominent amino acid responsible to reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia
(Mini and Rajamohan 2004). Polyphenols present in coconut helps in maintaining
the optimum level of lipid in the blood serum and tissues (Nevin and Rajamohan
2004). It entraps reactive oxygen species in human interstitial fluid and plasma in
arterial walls and inhibits the oxidation of LDL thereby reduces the absorption of
cholesterol in intestines as well as reverses the transport of cholesterol in humans
body (Von Eckardstein et al. 2001). This mechanism of polyphenols helps in
reducing the risk of hyperlipidemia.

7.5.15 In Reducing the Risks of Abdominal Obesity

Obesity is a prevalent disease usually caused by multiple endogenous and environ-

mental factors. Among all the factors, excessive caloric intake is the prominent one
(Wisse et al. 2007). Obesity is the root cause of other chronic diseases such as CVD,
diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer (Poirier et al. 2006). To manage or reduce
obesity, one should do modifications in the regular diet by reducing the calorie
intake, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. A report published a
couple of years back showed that coconut water reduced adipose tissue mass by
boosting metabolism accomplished by a decrease in leptin levels in animals fed
high-fat and high-fructose diets (Imaga et al. 2016).
180 P. T. Parmar et al.

In context to the above report, Mohamad et al. (2017) studied the anti-obesity and
anti-inflammatory effects of coconut water vinegar on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced
obese mice. C57/BL mice were fed with an HFD diet continuously for 33 weeks to
persuade obesity. Obese mice were fed with coconut water vinegar at a rate of 0.08
and 2 mL/kg body weight from week 24 to 33. The oral ingestion reduced the body
weight, serum lipid profile, and fat-pad weight of obese mice significantly
( p < 0.05). This would be achieved by alterations in the gut microbiota through
an increase in the populations of the Bacteroides and Akkermansia genera by the
coconut water vinegar that may have helped to overcome the obesity and inflam-
mation caused by the HFD.
With a fact that consumption of MCTGs in overweight adults reduces obesity
through increased thermogenesis, LaBarrie and St-Onge (2017) conducted a double-
blind, cross-over study on 15 children of 13–18 years of age by feeding them two test
meals containing 20 g fat which was corn oil or coconut oil-enriched baking fat.
They observed a significant effect of fat type on leptin (P ¼ 0.027), peptide YY
(P ¼ 0.0085), and triglycerides (P ¼ 0.020). The concentration of leptin and
triglyceride was lowered, while peptide YY concentrations were increased in com-
parison with corn oil consumption.
From the two studies cited above, it can be concluded that coconut oil and
coconut water can be used as a body weight management tool, but some more
research is needed to demonstrate it.

7.5.16 Renal Protective Effect

Urolithiasis is a common occurrence affecting up to 10%–15% of the globe at some

point during their lifetime (Long and Park 2007). Due to improved living standards,
race, ethnicity, and geographical location increased the incidence of kidney stones in
the world (Stamatelou et al. 2003). Many medicinal plants have been used to treat
urinary stones since ancient times. Coconut water serves the same. To evaluate its
renal protective ability, Gandhi et al. (2013) studied the prophylactic effect of
coconut water against nephrolithiasis-induced kidney stones in Wistar rats. They
were divided into three groups: control (standard diet), induced nephrolithiasis rats
fed with 0.75% ethylene glycol in drinking water, and in third group coconut water
instead of ethylene glycol for 7 weeks. The urine sample analysis showed a tremen-
dous reduction in calcium oxalate crystals in coconut water-fed rats. It significantly
( p < 0.05) reduced urea and creatinine levels in group 3. Based on the results of the
study, it can be suggested that coconut water has renal protective activity, and
coconut water can be investigated for its potential in the treatment of kidney stones
in humans.
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 181

7.6 Adverse Effects and Individual Concerns

Coconut can be a food allergen, and in India, it comes in the top five food allergens
(Teuber and Peterson 1999).

7.7 Food Applications

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) milk is being used by confectionaries, bakeries, biscuits,

and ice cream industries worldwide to enhance the flavor and taste of various
products (Persley 1992). Coconut juice was found to be rich in calcium (800 mg),
while the protein and fat contents were 50 and 65 g, respectively. The energy content
was 61.0 kcal and the total available carbohydrate was 300 g. The milk was reported
to be high in minerals and vitamin content (Nieuwentus and Nieuwelink 2002),
while total saturated fat was 10% of the total energy (Thai Food Composition 2004).
Percentage energy distribution from protein, total fat, and carbohydrate were
10:30:60.
The potential of coconut milk to treat the protein and calorie malnutrition in
Africa, Belewu and Belewu (2007) evaluated the potential of tiger nut, coconut and
soybean in inclusion to the confectionery products. They extracted milk from all
three sources and evaluated them for chemical composition. They observed that
coconut milk has 7.87% crude protein, 24.10% fat, 9.40% calcium, and 2.14%
phosphorous present. The total energy was 332.20 kcal per 100 g coconut milk.
Coconut milk was found to be rich in lauric and capric acid. The chemical compo-
sition of coconut milk revealed that it is a calorie-dense milk alternate containing a
good amount of dietary crude protein, fat, and minerals like calcium and phospho-
rous, and it can be included in human diet as well as livestock diets.
Out of the total applications of coconut oil, 61% is used in food applications
(Gunstone and Harwood 2007), while the major portion from the remaining 39% is
in the oleochemical industry. The coconut oil is largely used in frying, production of
margarine, filled milk, frozen desserts, etc.

7.7.1 Frying

In tropical countries especially in India and the Philippines, the most common use of
coconut oil is frying as it is a local product and has a local preference too (Rossel
2001). It is mainly suitable for shallow frying domestically. Furthermore, it is
unsuitable for industrial frying since it is rich in lauric acid and other fatty acids
with less than 14 carbon atoms. The reason for its unsuitability for industrial frying is
the liberation of free fatty acids upon hydrolysis of glycerol esters while used for
182 P. T. Parmar et al.

moisture-rich foods. Kochhar (2001) reported that use of lauric rich oils in frying
at the temperature range of 180–200  C results in unsatisfactory frying.

7.7.2 Margarine

Margarine means an emulsion of edible oils and fats with water (FSSR 2011). As per
FSSR (2011), there are types of margarine such as table margarine, bakery, and
industrial margarine, fat spreads, and blended spreads. In the past, partially hydro-
genated fats were the principle ingredient used in the production of margarine, but it
is not much in use now due to major helath concerns associated with trans fatty acids.
Lauric acid has a low melting point which helps in higher spreadability compared to
butter. Moreover, Lauric oils contain a higher amount of MCT which are readily
metabolized, absorbed, and cleared from the blood than long-chain fatty acids
(Deckere and Verschuren 2000).
Medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) are obtained by the distillation of coconut
fatty acids. They are low molecular weight triglycerides hence readily absorbed and
used immediately as an energy source in the body and therefore do not get stored in
the adipose tissues and thereby helps in reducing the risk of obesity. They have
higher oxidative stability as they contain saturated fatty acids which makes them
more suitable to be used in preventing sticking of bakery products on the pan surface
(Idris and Samsudin 2005). They are being used for decades to avoid the unpleasant
taste of spices and mixes by spraying onto them.

7.7.3 Filled Milk

Filled milk is milk in which the natural fat has been replaced by another fat source. In
countries where fresh milk availability is very low, filled milk is a substitute which is
more economical than fresh milk import. Since milk has a very unique flavor, the
primary criteria for selection of vegetable oil for the preparation of filled milk would
be less flavor. Coconut oil is largely used in filled milk due to its oxidative stability,
bland taste, low melting point, and good mouthfeel. The oxidative stability of
hydrogenated coconut oils is very high, therefore they are widely used for the
preparation of filled milk.

7.7.4 Frozen Dessert

Frozen dessert or frozen confection means the product obtained by freezing a

pasteurized mix prepared with edible vegetable oils or fats, having a melting point
of not more than 37  C or vegetable protein products, or both. It may also contain
7 Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 183

milk fat and other milk solids with the addition of nutritive sweeteners and other
permitted non-dairy ingredients. The said product may contain incorporated air and
may be frozen hard or frozen to a soft consistency (FSSR 2011). Coconut oil, natural
or modified, have high solid fat content at 0  C, low melting point, and bland taste,
hence preferred as a fat source in frozen desserts.

7.8 Alternative Applications

One of the major non-edible applications of coconut oil is in the soap industries; one
important chemical derivative of coconut oil is methyl esters of coconut fatty acids,
which are produced by treating coconut oil with methyl alcohol. These methyl esters
constitute an important raw material for the chemical industries as they are more
stable and are easier to separate by fractional distillation. Coconut oil has many other
industrial uses in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, rubber substitutes, synthetic
resins, etc. Coconut oil has also been found useful for mixing with diesel. This
mixture in the proportion as 30:70 has given excellent road performance of diesel
vehicles. Methyl esters of coconut oil fatty acids are also being used as lubricants and
biodiesel in the aviation industry.

7.9 Conclusion

Coconut has been an intrinsic part of the diet of Asia, Africa, Central America, and
the South Pacific Islands since ancient times. Apart from its health attributes, it has
been used in various food and non-food preparations. In the past few years, coconut
has been criticized for increasing the rate of heart diseases as it is rich in saturated
fatty acids. The tide has turned, and now its health benefits especially VCO’s health
benefits have been exploited. Moreover, further research is needed to claim its health
benefits. A different part of coconut should be studied for application in other foods
too which can be useful in inventing new functional products that can be future
scope for the miraculous fruit.

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