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.

Monographs on medicinal uses do not exist. The oil is commonly used for inflammatory dental diseases, for poorly healing wounds. It can also be used for skin and lip care. In the cosmetic 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.