title: Enhanced memory in Wistar rats by virgin coconut oil is associated with increased antioxidative, cholinergic activities and reduced oxidative stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virgin coconut oil (VCO) has been reported to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Capitalizing on these therapeutic effects, this study investigated for the first time the potential of VCO on memory improvement in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male Wistar rats (7-8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = six per group). Treatment groups were administered with 1, 5 and 10 g/kg VCO for 31 days by oral gavages. The cognitive function of treated-rats were assessed using the Morris Water Maze Test. Brains were removed, homogenized and subjected to biochemical analyses of acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx)], lipid peroxidase [malondialdehyde (MDA)] as well as nitric oxide (NO). α-Tocopherol (αT; 150 mg/kg) was also included for comparison purposes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VCO-fed Wistar rats exhibited significant (p < 0.05) improvement of cognitive functions [reduced escape latency (≥ 1.8 s), reduced escape distance (≥ 0.3 m) and increased total time spent on platform (≥ 1 s)]. The findings were accompanied by elevation of ACh (15%), SOD (8%), CAT (≥ 54%), GSH (≥ 20%) and GPx (≥ 12%) and reduction of AChE (≥17%), MDA (> 33%) and NO (≥ 34%). Overall, memory improvement by VCO was comparable to αT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VCO has the potential to be used as a memory enhancer, the effect of which was mediated, at least in part, through enhanced cholinergic activity, increased antioxidants level and reduced oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: a Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group , Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Shah Alam , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.|b Faculty of Applied Sciences , Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Arau , Perlis , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Syafiqah
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.affiliation: a Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group , Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Shah Alam , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.|c Faculty of Pharmacy , Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siong Meng
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy , Qassim University , Buraidah , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Vasudevan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Pharmacy , Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abu Bakar
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Abdul Majeed
authors.affiliation: a Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group , Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Shah Alam , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.|c Faculty of Pharmacy , Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kalavathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D010938:Plant Oils; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000074263:Coconut Oil
keywords: Nutraceutical; neuroinflammation; neuroprotective