Cocos nucifera Linn.: A Promising Candidate for Drug Development

Abstract

Cocos nucifera Linn. (Arecaceae) is a common palm found in different parts of the world and is consumed for various purposes, especially food and oil. It is widely used as a nutraceutical globally. Cocos nucifera has a wide range of conventional medical applications in inflammation, protozoal and microbial infection, cancer, hepatic illness, diabetes, mellitus, pain, epilepsy, fungal infection, and depression. Different parts of C. nucifera like leaves, flowers, roots, oil, and cotyledon were explored for scientific authentication in various illnesses. The presence of phytochemicals like amino acids (lauric acid, arginine, caprylic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid), vitamin C, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, phenolics, and tannins were reported in C. nucifera and this knowledge further hint for hidden pharmacological activities. This paper presents a review of the phytopharmacological activities of C. nucifera so that it may be used for developing a promising herbal candidate for the drug discovery process.