Numerous scientific studies have confirmed the effectiveness of virgin
coconut oil (VCO) as having multiple health-giving properties, as demonstrated both in
vivo and in vitro findings. The functional properties of VCO as antimicrobial,
antiobesity, antiulcerogenic, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic effect,
antidiabetic, and antioxidants properties have been widely reported. The remedial
effect of VCO was due to the presence of medium-chain triacylglycerols,
micronutrients (Vitamin E, provitamin A, plants sterols, polyphenols), and
antioxidants. The partially hydrolysed VCO, also known as activated virgin coconut
oil, is more potent than VCO as it contains more free medium-chain fatty acids
(caprylic, capric, and lauric acids) and their corresponding monoglycerides
(monocaprylin, monocaprin, and monolaurin); it has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial
properties. In this review, we summarized the major research, which provided evidence
of multiple beneficial effects of VCO and the mechanisms of therapeutic effects
towards human health management.
Keywords: Antimicrobial, Functional Food, Human Health, Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, Monoglycerides, Virgin Coconut Oil.
