ABSTRACT

Due to the abundance of Cocos nucifera (coconut) in eastern part of Nigeria and considering its high consumption, this work was carried to determine the potential application of the oil by investigation of the phytochemical as well as the antioxidant compositions and antimicrobial properties of its extracted oil content. The oil was extracted using Soxhlet Apparatus. The phytochemical screening, antioxidant composition and determination of the antimicrobial properties were carried out. The standard method cocos nucifera oil has a low content of 21.6%. the phytochemical analysis of the oil revealed the presence of saponin 0.03mg/g, Alkaloids 0.11mg/g, Flavonoids 0.23 mg/g and absence of tannin and phenols. The antioxidant composition of it was not detected, the antimicrobial activity of coconut oil was tested on some test organisms which include Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The coconut oil yielded zones of inhibitions when checked against the organisms. Inhibition were observed on C. albicans with inhibition zone of 21.mm at 400µg concentration. E.coli and S. aureus were sensitive to Gentamicin antibiotic (control) While C. albicans was also sensitive to Griseofuloin (control) . The minimum inhibition  concentration of Cocos nucifera oil on E.coli was 2.0µg /ml, S. aureus 1.8µg/ml and on C. albicans 0.9 µg/ml. These results showed that the Cocos nucifera extracted oil contains an appreciable amount of phytochemicals. Therefore, justification of the use of the coconut oil for food, medicinal and cosmetic was expatiated. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgments iv

Table of contents v

List of Tables vii

List of Figures viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Aims and Objectives 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 3

2.1 Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) 3

2.1.1 Botanical Description 3

2.1.2 Historical Cultivation 4

2.1.3 Nutritional Values 4

2.1.4 Medicinal Values 5

2.2 Coconut Production in Nigeria 7

2.3 The Importance of Coconut in Nigeria 7

2.3.1 Plant 7

2.3.2 The Seed 8

2.4 Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera oil) 9

2.5 Importance of Coconut as Oil Seed 10

2.6 Common Methods of Production of Coconut Oil 10

2.6.1 Milling by Traditional Methods 10

2.6.2 Copra Processing by Continuous Pressing 11

2.6.3 Wet Coconut Processing 11

2.7 Activities of Coconut Oil 14

2.7.1 Wound Healing Effect 14

2.7.2 Effect on Blood Sugar Control 14

2.7.3 Effect on Weight Loss 14

2.7.4 Immunomodulatory Effect 14

2.7.5 Edible Applications of Coconut Oil 15

2.7.6 Non-Edible Applications of Coconut Oil 15

2.8 Antimicrobial 15

2.9 Phytochemical 18

2.10 Antioxidants 20

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 22

3.1.1 Materials 22

3.1.2 Methods 22

3.2 Sample preparation 22

3.2.1 Media preparation 22

3.2.3 Test for sterility 23

3.3 Oil extraction and determination of yield 23

3.4 Phytochemical analysis 23

3.4.1 Test for tannins 24

3.4.2 Test for saponins 24

3.4.3 Test for Flavonoids 24

3.4.4 Test for Alkaloids 25

3.5 Quantitative phytochemical 25

3.5.1 Determination of tannins 25

3.5.2 Determination of Alkaloids 27

3.5.3 Determination of Flavonoids 27

3.5.4 Determination of saponin 28

3.6 Confirmation of microbial identity 29

3.6.1 Examination of Colony features 30

3.6.2 Microscopic features 30

3.6.3 Biochemical tests  30

3.6.3.1 Catalase test 30

3.6.3.2 Oxidase test 31

3.6.3.3 Methyl red test 31

3.6.3.4 Voges Prokauer test 31

3.6.4 Sugar utilization test 32

3.6.5 Confirmation of identification 32

3.6.6 Antioxidant test 33

3.7 Antimicrobial activity test 33

3.8 Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration 34

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Result 35

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 Discussion 41

5.2 Conclusion 42

References

Appendices