Does Inhalation of Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerate Reversal of Airway Remodelling in an Allergic Model of Asthma?

Beneficial Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Food Oils in Cardiovascular Health and Disease

A variety of vegetable and fruit derived food oils are considered beneficial for human health due to their content of functional components including their positive effects in cardiovascular system. In addition to the favorable ratio of unsaturated versus saturated fatty acids, some of these oils include also other health beneficial compounds such as vitamins, minerals, pigments, enzymes and phenolic compounds. Particularly polyphenols have been documented to exert numerous positive effects in cardiovascular system including their anti-hypertensive, anti-atherogenic as well as cardio- and vasculo- protective effects in subjects suffering from various cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases, likely via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-proliferative and anti-diabetic properties. However, it has not been proven so far whether the positive cardiovascular effects of polyphenol-rich food oils are, and to what measure, attributed to their phenolic content. Thus, the current review aims to summarize the main cardiovascular effects of major polyphenol-rich food oils including olive, flaxseed, soybean, sesame and coconut oils, and to uncover the role of their phenolic compounds in these effects.

Disinfection of 3D-printed surgical guides using virgin coconut oil (in vitro study)

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Disinfection of a 3D-printed surgical guide is of utmost importance as it comes into contact with hard and soft tissue during implant placement so it poses a potential risk of pathogenic transmission. Methods used for disinfection in the surgical field should be reliable, practical, and safe for the instruments and the patients. The objectives of this study were to compare the antimicrobial potential of 100% Virgin Coconut Oil, 2% Glutaraldehyde, and 70% Ethyl Alcohol used to decontaminate 3D-printed surgical guides.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty identical surgical guides were printed and cut into two halves (N = 60). Both halves were then contaminated with a defined amount of human saliva samples (2 ml). The first half (n = 30) was sub-grouped into three study groups which were immersed in one of the three disinfectants for 20 min as follows; group VCO was immersed in 100% Virgin Coconut Oil, group GA was immersed in 2% Glutaraldehyde, and group EA was immersed in 70% Ethyl Alcohol. The second half (n* = 30) was sub-grouped into three control groups which were immersed in sterile distilled water as follows group VCO*, group GA*, and group EA*. The microbial count was expressed as colony-forming units per plate and the comparison of the antimicrobial potential of the three tested disinfectants between the three study and three control groups was done using the One-Way ANOVA test.

RESULTS

The culture results of three study groups revealed no bacterial growth with the highest % of reduction in the mean microbial count of the oral microorganisms (about100%) and an uncountable bacterial growth was shown between the three control groups (more than 100 CFU/plate) representing the baseline of the oral microorganisms. Therefore; statistically significant differences were found between the three control and three study groups (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The antimicrobial potential of Virgin Coconut Oil was comparable and equivalent to Glutaraldehyde and Ethyl Alcohol with a significant inhibitory action against oral pathogens.

Prevalence, causes and treatments of allergic rhinitis in Malaysia: a literature review

Recently, allergic rhinitis (AR) cases have been surging rapidly in many developing countries. However, the prevalence, risk factors and treatment modalities for AR within the Malaysian population have not been thoroughly evaluated. The present study aimed to provide a complete review of literature on allergic rhinitis in Malaysia. Available data indicated that the prevalence of AR varied across different age groups and regions in Malaysia, but there is an increasing trend among the younger population. The key contributing factor is exposure and sensitization towards several airborne allergens, mainly house dust mites, cat fur and fungi, with possible genetic predispositions. In addition, variations in the symptom severity may be associated with racial orientations. For management of the disease, standard prescriptions of conventional drugs (antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids and nasal decongestants) remain as the treatment of choice. A small proportion of the native residents tend to resort to alternative approaches of self-healing through aromatherapy and natural food consumption such as tiger’s milk mushroom and Tualang honey. In conclusion, the increase in the cases of AR in Malaysia is due to environmental and genetic factors which requires proper medical intervention as treatment strategies. The utilization of holistic approaches requires further studies and clear understanding prior to their integration into the standard of care. There are still many gaps in the knowledge and management of allergic rhinitis which demands further attention from the research community.

Virgin coconut oil: A comprehensive review of antioxidant activity and mechanisms contributed by phenolic compounds

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is obtained by processing mature coconut cores with mechanical or natural methods. In recent years, VCO has been widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its excellent functional activities. VCO has biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral, and also has potential therapeutic effects on many chronic degenerative diseases. Among these functions, the antioxidant is the most basic and important function, which is mainly determined by phenolic compounds and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This review aims to elucidate the antioxidant functions of each phenolic compound in VCO, and discuss the antioxidant mechanisms of VCO in terms of the role of phenolic compounds with fat, intestinal microorganisms, and various organs. Besides, the composition of VCO and its application in various industries are summarized, and the biological functions of VCO are generalized, which should lay a foundation for further research on the antioxidant activity of VCO and provide a theoretical basis for the development of food additives with antioxidant activity.