Manila, Philippines — After six months of tremendous experiments, Filipino scientists carrying out research on the efficacy of coconut oil or virgin coconut oil (vco) on patients with COVID-19 have provided evidence of virgin coconut oil as a potential antiviral agent against the new coronavirus disease.
“There are still alternative solutions against COVID-19 aside from vaccines. Although further investigation is needed before we develop a possible prevention or treatment option, we aim to give Filipinos hope through our ongoing local research initiatives,” Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said in a radio interview.
According to de la Peña, during clinical trials it was discovered that compounds from the oil can decrease coronavirus count by 60 to 90 percent for mild to moderate cases.
Furthermore, it was also found that such compounds can improve cell survival rate. Certain studies, however, must be made to know whether the oil compounds can decrease the replication rate of the virus.
“There are still alternative solutions against COVID-19 aside from vaccines. Although further investigation is needed before we develop a possible prevention or treatment option, we aim to give Filipinos hope through our ongoing local research initiatives,” Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said in a radio interview.
According to de la Peña, during clinical trials it was discovered that compounds from the oil can decrease coronavirus count by 60 to 90 percent for mild to moderate cases. Furthermore, it was also found that such compounds can improve cell survival rate. Certain studies, however, must be made to know whether the oil compounds can decrease the replication rate of the virus.
“The results are very promising, as not only does it show that VCO, by itself, can destroy the virus, but it also has a key mechanism in regulating the immune response against COVID-19.” Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the PCHRD said.
In collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, the team of Filipino scientists led by Dr. Fabian Dayrit of Ateneo de Manila University sought to investigate whether coconut oil components can be effectively used to prevent or treat COVID-19 infections.
Currently, there is still ongoing research and clinical trials to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the oil.
In recent years, coconut oil, a readily available resource in the Philippines, has caught the attention of the scientific community for its apparent broader health benefits in effectively killing viruses and pathogens that invade human health.
Sources:
Gonzalez, C., J. (2020). Filipino experiments revealed evidence that virgin coconut oil may be a means to defeat COVID-19. Retrieved from http://pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6599-vco-a-potential-antiviral-agent-against-covid-19-filipino-research
Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2020). Virgin coconut oil a potential antiviral agent vs COVID-19, research shows. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1349580/vco-a-potential-antiviral-agent-vs-covid-19-research-shows#ixzz6cqO21o00
German Press Agency. (2020). Filipino scientists claim coconut oil can destroy coronavirus. Retrieved from https://www.dailysabah.com/life/science/filipino-scientists-claim-coconut-oil-can-destroy-coronavirus
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