Sentro nang pag-aaral ng ilang eksperto rito sa Pilipinas ngayon ang virgin coconut oil (VCO) dahil sa antiviral property nito na posible umanong malabanan ang virus na nagdudulot ng COVID-19.
Nagpahayag na ng suporta ang Department of Science and Technology (DOST) sa ginagawang research, sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Philippine Council on Health Research and Development (PCHRD).
“Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of DOST-PCHRD told NutraIngredientsAsia that coconut oil and its derivatives have been previously studied for their antiviral properties. Dr. Montoya clarified, however, that VCO has yet to be tested against COVID-19,” batay sa isang statement.
Ipinaliwanag ni Dr. Fabian Dayrit ng Ateneo de Manila University ang antiviral activity ng lauric acid at monolarium na component ng VCO.
“First, VCO causes disintegration of the virus’ outer structure or the virus envelop. Second, VCO inhibits the late maturation stage of the virus’ replicative cycle, and the third is that VCO prevents the viral proteins to bind to the host’s cell membrane.”
“Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid which is about 50% coconut oil. Monolaurin is a metabolite that is naturally produced by the body’s own enzymes upon ingestion of coconut oil and is also available in pure form as a supplement.”
Minsan na raw ginamit ang coconut oil at monolarium sa 15 pasyenteng infected ng HIV sa San Lazaro Hospital, sa pamamagitan ng clinical trial.
Mula sa iba’t-ibang grupo ng edad, wala pa raw kahit isa sa mga ito ang nakatanggap ng kahit anong treatment o gamot laban sa sakit.
Matapos ang anim na buwan, isang pasyente sa kanila ang namatay, habang 11 pasyente ang nakitaan ng mas mataas na CD4 at CD8.
“CD4 and CD8 are components of the white blood cells that move throughout the body to find and destroy bacteria, virus, and other invading microorganism,” nakasaad sa statement.
“15 milliliters of VCO be considered as a general prophylactic against viral and microbial infection. VCO as a functional food needs to be tested,” ani Dr. Dayrit.
Sa ngayon, hindi lang Pilipinas ang gumagawa ng pagsasaliksik para sa gamot kontra COVID-19 dahil may inisyatibo na rin ang World Health Organization.
“Several scientists and researchers are working on drugs to target the coronavirus, and the testing of these drugs may not be available for some time.”
