Comparative Benefits of Cocos nucifera L. Husk, Milk and Shell Extracts on Body Weight Changes and Haematological Indices in Male Rats

Abstract

Cocos nucifera (Linn.) is from the family Arecaceae known as coconut, coco, coco-da-bahia, or coconut-of-the-shoreline and is ordinarily a widespread organic product known to man. 1 Cocos nucifera is called Kwakwa in Hausa, Agbon in Yoruba, Aki in Igbo and famously known as coconut in English. The term coconut can allude to the entire coconut palm or the seed, or the natural products, which, organically, is a drupe, not a nut. 2 Coconut is composed of an external epicarp, a mesocarp, an internal endocarp, embryo and endosperm. 3 The epicarp is the external skin, the mesocarp is sinewy and tanned when dry (husks), the endocarp is the hard dim center (shell), and embryo is the whitish edible substance housing the endosperm, which is the sweet slightly acidic water. 4 Coconut husk is full of long, coarse fibres, all running in one direction and embedded in coir dust-like matrix of material. 5 The husks absorb and retain water due to their porous nature consisting of cellulose, lignin, pyroligneous acid, gas, charcoal, tar, tannin, and potassium, while the coconut dust content is rich in lignin and cellulose. 5 Coconut milk, on the other hand, contained a high amount of protein, and amino acids as

Pattern of Haematological Indices of Wistar Rats Administered Antiretroviral Therapy Singly or in Combination with Ascorbic Acid and α-Tocopherol

“…Impact of natural products on haematological indices have also been reported. 11 Red cell aplacia have been described by John et al 12 in red blood cells due to adiministration of Lamivudin.…”