Abstract
Coconut oil has been one of the most widely used cooking oils in Asia for hundreds years. Apart from its primary use in culinary activities, coconut oil is used in a variety of applications. Even though it was earlier recognized and criticized as an oil that had a negative impact on health, in recent years it has been identified as an emerging functional food as it provides many health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of coconut oil as a functional food, demonstrating its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial effects. These health benefits are attributed to its unique composition, particularly the presence of phytochemicals and medium-chain fatty acids, which contribute to its therapeutic potential. Additionally, coconut oil is being explored to be used in non-culinary sectors, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable products, due to its natural properties and sustainability. This review provides an in-depth examination of coconut oil’s biological activities and its emerging roles in various industries, shedding light on its growing significance as a multi-functional resource.Coconut oil has been one of the most widely used cooking oils in Asia for hundreds years. Apart from its primary use in culinary activities, coconut oil is used in a variety of applications. Even though it was earlier recognized and criticized as an oil that had a negative impact on health, in recent years it has been identified as an emerging functional food as it provides many health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of coconut oil as a functional food, demonstrating its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial effects. These health benefits are attributed to its unique composition, particularly the presence of phytochemicals and medium-chain fatty acids, which contribute to its therapeutic potential. Additionally, coconut oil is being explored to be used in non-culinary sectors, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable products, due to its natural properties and sustainability. This review provides an in-depth examination of coconut oil’s biological activities and its emerging roles in various industries, shedding light on its growing significance as a multi-functional resource.
Introduction
The coconut tree is named the “tree of life” due to its numerous benefits associated with a variety of applications. The coconut tree is an important source providing food, oil, fibre, and raw materials for various traditional and commercial uses (Hoe, 2018). Coconuts, the fruits of the coconut tree, are predominantly produced in the Asian region. Indonesia, Philippines and India are the top producers, while Sri Lanka is the fourth largest coconut producer, contributing 4.3% of total world coconut production (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2021).
Among the many products obtained from the coconuts, coconut oil stands out for its versatile applications and numerous health benefits. Coconut oil has been an important edible oil in the food industry for many years and has been the most popular cooking oil in Asian Pacific region (Schwingshackl & Schlesinger, 2023). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Indonesia ranked as the highest producer of coconut oil in the world, while Sri Lanka is among the top seven coconut oil-producing countries in the world in 2020 (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2021). As a traditional coconut product, coconut oil has gained widespread popularity among consumers and continues to command a premium price, despite accounting for a smaller share of the global vegetable oil market (Hoe, 2018).
Several types of coconut oil are widely used for both culinary and industrial applications. The most commercially popular varieties include coconut oil derived from copra (CDCO), virgin coconut oil (VCO), and refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) coconut oil (Subajiny et al., 2018). Each type is produced using distinct productionprocesses (Yalegama et al., 2016) , which influence the oil’s quality, stability, and nutritional composition (Dayrit et al., 2007). The choice of extraction method plays a crucial role in determining the physicochemical properties and health benefits of the final product (Subajiny et al., 2018).
Coconut oil has a unique fatty acid profile; high in medium-chain fatty acids, and the phytochemical content contributes to its biological properties (Chatterjee et al., 2020). Coconut oil has been shown to have many biological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic activities through in vivo (Nevin & Rajamohan, 2009; Siddalingaswamy et al., 2011; Nasution et al., 2023) and in vitro studies (Aqilah et al., 2018; Seneviratne, 2020). Most of these properties are attributed to the bioactive compounds submerged in coconut oil (Kardinasari & Devriany, 2020). However, these bioactive compounds also vary qualitatively and quantitatively based on their extraction process (Sundrasegaran & Mah, 2020; Aqilah et al., 2018).
Stability of fatty acids and bioactive compounds in coconut oil is affected by many factors, including extraction technique, storage time, storage condition, and temperature (Mulyadi et al. 2019). However, coconut oil exhibits better overall oxidative stability than vegetable oils (Subajiny et al. 2018).
Various industries make extensive use of coconut oil and its derivatives. Both industrial applications and benefits to human nutrition depend on the fatty acids and phytochemical composition in coconut oil (Shijna Kappally, 2015). Coconut oleochemicals are mostly utilized in non-food products; the detergent industry, textile industry, and petroleum sector (Dorni et al., 2018). Coconut oil, with its rich nutrient content, biological and functional properties, and relatively high stability to oxidation, is emerging as a valuable resource for a variety of applications in different industries. The main aim of this review is to focus on the biological properties and novel applications of coconut oil.
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H.A.S.S. Hettiarachchi, R.A.N. Ranathunga, Dilini N. Kekulandara, K.D.P.P. Gunathilake, Coconut oil: unlocking its hidden potential – from health powerhouse to ground-breaking innovations, https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1740-7153, Received: 24.10.2024, http://doi.org/10.4038/josuk.v18i1.8124, J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 18 (1) (2025): 45-60
