Antihypertensive Potential of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Water in Wistar Rats

Background: Hypertension has become a common sickness in Nigeria especially among population above 50 years of age. It constitutes a major riskfactor for several cardiovascular diseases suchas atherosclerosis, heart failure, renal insufficiency, coronary artery disease and stroke.

Aim: This study was aimed at evaluating the antihypertensive potential of coconut water in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten each. Rats in groups 1 and 2 received aspecial prepared egg feed diet (24 egg yolkmixed with 1 kg of normal rat diet) while those in group 3 received normal feed diet and they served as the control group. Animals in group 2 were administered 3 mL/100 g bodyweight of undiluted coconut water simultaneously with the feeding. The animals were fed orally for 21 consecutive days and had access to drinking water ad libitum. Blood pressure of each of these groups was determined at day 0, 7, 14 and 21 respectively using standard methods.

Results: A significant increase was observed in the blood pressure of animals fed with egg formulated diet without coconut water treatment when compared with those fed with egg formulated diet and treated with coconut water and control group respectively at P<0.05. However, this effect was not significant when animals fed with egg formulated diet and treated with coconut water were compared with those in the control group.

Conclusion: The nonsignificant difference observed in the blood pressure of animals fed with egg yolk formulated-diet and treated simultaneously with coconut water when compared with those in the control group showed that coconut water possesses antihypertensive potential.