Preliminary studies on Cocos nucifera water for conceptive and anti abortive properties

Abstract

The claim that Cocos nucifera water is used to prevent abortion by some traditional medicine practitioners in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria was investigated using female albino rats. 20 adult female rats maintained at 1922ºC, in a 12-hour light/dark cycle (lights on at 7:00 a. m.) were mated in the proportion of 5 females for one male and existence of pregnancy was confirmed by palpation after the 12 th day of pregnancy. On the 10 th day of pregnancy, a laparotomy was performed. A day after mating, doses of Cocos nucifera (0.5 ml/100 g, 1.0 ml/100 g and 2.0ml/100 g) were administered daily for the next twenty-one days and their weights taken at day 1, 7, 14, 21. On delivery, the number of litter from each female was counted. In-vivo studies revealed that the number of litter corresponded to the number of implantation sites counted and a corresponding increase in body weight of the rats observed. A dose-dependent increase in urine production but a decrease in electrolyte excretion occured. From the study, it can be concluded that Cocos nucifera water was shown to aid pregnancy. The extract also promoted diuresis, with minimal loss of electrolytes.

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Scholarly Journal of Medicine, Vol. 3(2) pp. 19-22 February, 2013
Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJM
ISSN 2276-7134 © 2013 Scholarly-Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Preliminary studies on Cocos nucifera water for
conceptive and anti abortive properties
Kennedy Iliya Amagon, Noel N. Wannang, Simeon Omale and Nanloh S. Jimam
Department of Pharmacology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
Accepted 5 August, 2012
The claim that Cocos nucifera water is used to prevent abortion by some traditional medicine
practitioners in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria was investigated using female albino rats. 20 adult female
rats maintained at 19±22ºC, in a 12-hour light/dark cycle (lights on at 7:00 a. m.) were mated in the
proportion of 5 females for one male and existence of pregnancy was confirmed by palpation after the
12th day of pregnancy. On the 10th day of pregnancy, a laparotomy was performed. A day after mating,
doses of Cocos nucifera (0.5 ml/100 g, 1.0 ml/100 g and 2.0ml/100 g) were administered daily for the next
twenty-one days and their weights taken at day 1, 7, 14, 21. On delivery, the number of litter from each
female was counted. In-vivo studies revealed that the number of litter corresponded to the number of
implantation sites counted and a corresponding increase in body weight of the rats observed. A dose-
dependent increase in urine production but a decrease in electrolyte excretion occured. From the study,
it can be concluded that Cocos nucifera water was shown to aid pregnancy. The extract also promoted
diuresis, with minimal loss of electrolytes.
Keywords: Cocos nucifera water, diuretic, pregnancy, in-vivo, abortion
INTRODUCTION
The Coconut Palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the
family Arecaceae (Palm family). It is the only accepted
species in the genus Cocos. Early Spanish explorers
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three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut that resembles
WKHKHDGDQGIDFHRIDPRQNH\ZKLOHµQXFLIHUD¶PHDQVQXW
bearing. Cocos nucifera (coconut palm), found in the
Pacific islands and Africa, provides food, drink and
medicine (Chan and Elevitch, 2006; Uwubanmwen et al.,
2011). Coconut water contains inorganic ions which
contribute to its therapeutic (Anrag and Rajamohan,
2003), and nutritional value(Yong et al., 2009), Coconut
Water has anti-hypertensive (Alleyne et al., 2005),
antihelmintic, antipyretic, diuretic properties and as an
intravenous fluid, where saline and glucose infusions are
unavailable (Campbell-Falck et al., 2000). Cocos nucifera
Corresponding Author E-mail.pharmken@gmail.com
has been reported to treat asthma, burns, colds,
constipation, cough, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea, fever,
pregnancy and venereal diseases (Fiore et al., 2008).
The reported uses of this fruit supports the position that
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medicine (Sofowora, 1993).
Pregnancy is the fertilization and development of one
or more offspring, known as an embryo or fetus, in a
IHPDOH¶V XWHUXV 7KLV FRQGLWLRQ LV RIWHQ DFcompanied by
physiological changes. In pregnancy, a number of
symptoms are experienced, such as excessive tiredness
and fatigue, sluggishness, increase in basal body
temperature, increased heart rate and blood pressure,
breast tenderness, excessive urination especially at
night, dehydration among others. Some of these
symptoms are highly discomforting and need to be
remedied. Over the years, some of these discomforting
and potentially harmful symptoms have kept recurring,
despite the efforts of researchers to present reliable
treatment.

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Amagon et al. 20
Table 1: Effect of Cocos nucifera water on body weight in pregnant rats
Day
Average weight (g)
Treatment (ml/100g)
Control
0.5
1.0
2.0
1
147.0 ± 8.4
135.0 ± 5.1
149 ± 10.0
*127.0 ± 2.6
7
147.0 ± 6.0
153.3 ± 14.8
*161.0 ± 21.7
145.0 ± 4.0
14
156.0 ± 7.7
156.7 ± 6.6
*165.0 ± 21.8
155.0 ± 5.0
21
163.0 ± 5.6
161.0 ± 3.7
174 ± 12.1
190.0 ± 7.0
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM., *P<0.05., n=5
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant Collection and Authentication
The Cocos nucifera fruit was obtained from fruit sellers at
the terminus area in Jos, Nigeria. It was identified and
authenticated by a Botanist at the Federal College of
Forestry, Jos, Nigeria.
Preparation of Extract
Fresh Cocos nucifera water was obtained after breaking
open the hard outer covering of the fruit. The fleshy part
was then carefully opened up at one end and the water
carefully poured into clean plastic cups.
Test Animals
The experimental protocols were approved by the
Committee of Ethics on Animal Experimentation of the
Department of Pharmacology, University of Jos, Nigeria.
35 adult female albino rats and 5 adult male rats were
obtained from the animal house of the University of Jos,
Nigeria. Albino rats, which have impaired vision, sense of
smell, motor skills and spatial learning and sleep patterns
were used because of their passivity as opposed to the
other pigmented rats. The animals were fed on standard
feed and allowed water ad libitum. 20 adult female albino
rats and 5 adult male rats were used for determining the
effect of the extract on pregnancy while 15 adult female
albino rats were used to determine diuretic effect and
effect of the extract on electrolytes.
Administration of Cocos nucifera water
Five (5) female albino rats were randomly assigned to
four (4) different cages and treated as follows: Group 1-
(Control) was administered distilled water only (1.0 ml/
100 g); Group 2- 0.5 ml/100 g of extract; Group 3- 1.0
ml/100 g of extract; Group 4- 2.0ml/100 g of extract.
Effects on Pregnancy
The female rats used were selected after three regular
consecutive estrous cycles and allowed free access to
standard ECWA® pelleted diet feed and water ad libitum.
They were maintained at 19±22ºC, in a 12-hour light/dark
cycle (lights on at 7:00 a. m.). The rats were mated in the
proportion of 5 females for one male, for 2 hours. The
day µ]HUR¶RISUHJQDQF\ZDVFRQVLGHUHGWREHWKHILUVW-
hour period after the mating by the finding of
spermatozoa in vaginal smears. The existence of
pregnancy was confirmed by palpation after the 12th day
of pregnancy. A day after mating, doses of Cocos
nucifera were administered as above. Administration of
Cocos nucifera was repeated daily for twenty-one days
(known gestation period of rats). [9] The weights were also
taken at day 1, 7, 14 and 21.
On the 10th day of pregnancy, a laparotomy was
performed according to the method described by Agrawal
and Paridhavi, (2007). On delivery, the number of litter
from each female was counted.
Effect of the Extract on Electrolytes and Diuresis
Five (5) female albino rats per group were placed in three
metabolic cages. Food and water were withdrawn 24
hours prior to the experiment. Cocos nucifera water was
administered to the groups in increasing concentration
while the control was administered distilled water only.
Urine excretion was recorded after 5 hours and 24 hours
respectively. The presence/absence of Na+ , K+ (using
flame photometry) and Cl-, HCO3
- (using back titration)
were determined.
Statistical Analysis
All results were expressed as mean ± SEM and tests of
significant differences between the means were carried
RXW E\ VWXGHQWV¶ t-test and a probability value of P<0.05
was considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS
Table 1 shows that Cocos nucifera water at doses of 0.5

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Scholarly J. Med. 21
Table 2: Effect of Cocos nucifera water on electrolytes and on diuresis in pregnant rats
Group
Volume (ml)
Electrolytes (mmol)
Na+
K+
Cl-
HCO3-
Control
3.0 ± 0.66
580.0 ± 122.9
235.1 ± 285.9
23.0 ± 3.6
29.0 ± 3.6
1 ml/100g
6.0 ± 1.63
*373 ± 45.4
*153.5 ± 21.4
19.0 ± 3.1
20.0 ± 2.7
2 ml/kg
*7.0 ± 2.75
379.0 ± 68.6
*137.2 ± 30.6
*14.0 ± 1.4
22.0 ± 5.73
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM., *P<0.05., n=5
Table 3: Effect of cocos nucifera water on implantation sites and number of litter
Group
Implantation site
Number of litter
Gestation period (days
Control
6.0 ± 1
6.0 ± 1
21
1
6.0 ± 1
6.0 ± 1
23
2
6.0 ± 0
6.0 ± 0
23
3
6.0 ± 0
5.0 ± 0
21
Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n=5
ml/100 g, 1.0 ml/100 g and 2.0 ml/100 g produced a
general increase in body weight of the pregnant female
rat when compared to the control. The increase was most
pronounced on day 21 in the female rats administered
2.0 ml/100 g of the extract.
Table 2 shows a dose-dependent increase in volume of
urine produced as compared to the control (P<0.05).
Administration of 2.0 ml/100 g of extract produced the
largest urine volume compared to the control. Qualitative
determination of the urine showed a dose-dependent
decrease in the concentration of Na+, K+ , Cl- and HCO3
-
compared to the control.
Table 3 shows little difference in the implantation site
and number of litter for the rats administered Cocos
nucifera water at doses of 0.5 ml/100 g, 1.0 ml/100 g and
2.0 ml/100 g as compared to the control group (P<0.05).
DISCUSSION
Pregnancy is associated with major changes in renal
function and pregnant females generally tend to show an
increase in body weight. The pregnant rat is a useful
model of changes in renal function during pregnancy as
changes in Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) occur and
are accompanied by enhanced reabsorption of salt and
water throughout most of the gestation period (Atherton
and Pirie, 1981). The changes in GFR, salt and water
reabsorption have been documented in pregnant rats,
and this is similar in humans (Atherton and Pirie; Atherton
and Green, 1994).
Diuretics are drugs that increase the excretion of
sodium and water from the body by decreasing the
reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- from the filtrate. This can be
modified by a direct action on the cells of the nephron
(Rang et al., 2003). In this study, the extract has diuretic
activity as there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in
urine production upon administration of the coconut
water, compared to the control. In pregnancy toxaemia,
the passage of urine helps the removal of
waste/undesirable product from the body (Agunu et al.,
2005), thus, ther need to increase the volume of urine
production and so a diuretic agent such as the one
discoverd in this study is needed to achieve this.
In contrast, there was a decrease in concentration of
Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3
- excreted. The extract produces
diuresis without the concomitant loss of electrolytes. This
can be inferred to mean that Cocos nucifera has little
effect on the concentration of ions, making replacement
of these electrolytes unnecessary. This is particularly
important as these ions play important roles during
pregnancy. Potassium, which constitutes more than half
the mineral content of coconut water, plays a major role
in increasing urinary output (Pradera et al., 1942). It is
also important in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance
in WKH ERG\¶V FHOOV LQ DGGLWLRQ WR LWV LQYROYHPHQW LQ
sending nerve impulses, muscle contraction and
releasing energy from proteins, fat and carbohydrates
during metabolism(Atherton et al., 1982). The decrease
in the concentration of the ions is further buttressed by
Coons et al., (1934), who reported that an enormous
retention of salt occurred during pregnancy.
The group administered 2.0 ml/100 g of the extract was
the only group that delivered on day 21, which is the
gestation period of rats. The low doses protracted the
gestation period, though not significantly. The number of
litter delivered corresponded to the number of
implantation sites counted on day 10 of pregnancy, thus
the extract of Cocos nucifera could be used even in
women who experience habitual abortion.

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Amagon et al. 22
CONCLUSION
Cocos nucifera wter has been shown to aid pregnancy,
as the number delivered at the end of the gestation
period corresponded to the number of implantation sites
counted on day 10 of pregnancy. The water was also
shown to promote diuresis, with minimal loss of
electrolytes. Cocos nucifera can therefore be used in
women with threatened or habitual abortion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks to Cyprian Dimka, a student in Dr. N.N
:DQQDQJ¶V ODERUDWRU\ ZKR DVVLVWHd in the course of the
research work.
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