Coconut oil

Cocos nucifera, the coconut palm, is the parent plant of Oleum Cocos the coconut oil (coconut oil) also called coconut butter, a whitish yellowish oil, which is soluble in 90% ethanol but not in water. Oleum Cocos has a melting point between 22-28°C.

Contents: 45% lauric acid, 20% myristic acid, 9% caprylic acid about 7% palmitic acid and other long-chain carboxylic acids.

Coconut oil has an antimicrobial and especially antifungal effect.

There are nomonographs on medicinal applications. The oil is popularly used for inflammatory dental diseases and poorly healing wounds. It can also be used for skin and lip care. In the cosmetics industry, the oil is used for soaps and creams.

1. Aerts O et al (2016) The many faces of coconut oil
2. erivatives: occupational hand dermatitis caused by a liquid soap containing cocamidopropylamine oxide. Contact dermatitis 74:248-251.
3. Kaushik M et al (2016) The Effect of Coconut Oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans Count in Saliva in Comparison with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. J Contemp Dent Pract 17:38-41.
4. Seleem D et al (2016) In vitro evaluation of antifungal activity of monolaurine against Candida albicans biofilms. PeerJ 4:e2148.
5. Shino B et al (2016) Comparison of Antimicrobial Activity of Chlorhexidine, Coconut Oil, Probiotics, and Ketoconazole on Candida albicans Isolated in Children with Early Childhood Caries: An In Vitro Study. Scientifica (Cairo) 2016:7061587.