Comparative Analysis of Phytochemicals and Nutritionally Essential Metals in Coconut Oil and Coconut Water Fractions

Abstract

The nutritional benefits of coconut oil have not been well reported. This study compared the status of nutritionally essential elements, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities in coconut oil (CNO) and coconut water (CNW) fractions. Elemental constituents of the CNO and CNW were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the levels of DPPH and the total antioxidant capacity were determined spectrophotometrically. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the DPPH scavenging ability of CNO (50.44 + 0.44 %) and CNW (49.41 + 0.07 %). The total antioxidant capacity of CNO (35.57 + 1.54 mg/dl) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than in CNW (24.78 + 0.40 mg/dl). Levels of Ca, Na, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cr and Mn (83.86 + 1.93 mg/L, 10.89+ 0.25 mg/L, 8.71+ 0.17 mg/L, 7.56 + 0.19 mg/L, 0.73 + 0.03 mg/L, 0.08 + 0.01 mg/L and 0.77 + 0.03 mg/L respectively) in CNW were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in CNO (23.61+ 0.78 mg/L, 6.22+ 0.14 mg/L, 3.95+ 0.11mg/L, 2.83 + 0.06 mg/L, 0.17 + 0.04 mg/L, 0.04 + 0.02 mg/L and 0.5 + 0.01 mg/L respectively). It could be concluded that CNW contains essential elements and could be used to optimize metabolism in deficient individuals.