Publication

Abstract : Nonalcoholic Palm Nectar from Cocos nucifera (NPNC), a bio-refresher obtained from the juvenile inflorescence of coconut palm; is prominent as a nutritional health drink. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional and medicinal properties of NPNC and its products; sugar (NPNCS) and honey (NPNCH). The collected samples were subjected to physicochemical evaluations such as pH, Titrable Acidity, Total Soluble Solids, and Ash value, using standard techniques. The analysis revealed the suitability of NPNC as a natural health drink over conventionally available beverage. The elemental compositions of the samples were determined by using Inductive Coupled Plasma—Atomic Emission Spectrometry and demonstrated that NPNCH is enriched with iron and NPNCS with calcium. Vitamin C present in the samples was determined by using 2,6-Dichlorophenol indophenol redox titration method. Hydrolysable polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids are determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, by Folin-Denis's technique and by aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. In NPNC, the dominance of Vitamin C as antioxidant is observed. Diuretic activity of samples was determined by Lipschitz method, and the results revealed that NPNC exhibited significant diuretic activity, comparable with furosemide. Immunomodulatory activities of the samples were evaluated by using indirect hemagglutination test and by using delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. NPNC, NPNCS, and NPNCH exhibited stimulatory effect on humoral and cell-mediated immunity, which is comparable with that of standard immunomodulator levamizole. Subacute toxicity studies of selected samples were done in Wistar rats and the results proved the boicompatibility of the samples without systemic toxic effects.