ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Coconut water is used in folklore medicine for oral rehydration, treatment of childhood diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and cholera, and is also known to possess antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined the ameliorative potentials of coconut water on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned into separate cages according to the sex of 5 groups. Groups 2-5 were intraperitoneally injected a single dose of 1 mL/kg CCl4 diluted in olive oil. Only 3, 4 and 5 were orally given 2, 4, 6 mL/kg coconut water respectively, whereas groups 1 and 2 received distilled water. RESULTS: Treatment with coconut water significantly (p < 0.05) increased red blood cell, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, total protein, and albumin compared to the negative control in both sexes of the rats. Furthermore, platelets, white blood cells, urea, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, malondialdehyde, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate transaminases decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control in both male and female rats. CONCLUSION: Thus, coconut water supplementation may reverse CCl4 induced toxicity and distortions on haematological parameters, lipid profile and antioxidant enzymes, liver and kidney biomarkers in rats.
