Virgin Coconut Oil is Non-Mutagenic and
Anti-Mutagenic
Results of Ames Test and Comet Assay
Investigators
‡
:
Buenafe FMA, Cabrera N, Calderon J, Campos EM, Canoy IC, Capili C,
Carasco MAA, Cielo PM, Co ML, Collantes PA, Concepcion FA,
Concha JS, de la Cruz RA, Delgado G
Advisers:
Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus
‡
Dr. Evangeline Amor
◊
‡
College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila
◊
Institute of Chemistry, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman

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ABSTRACT
Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is currently one of the most popular and widely used
natural oils here in the Philippines.
Considered by Dr. Dayrit as a “Drugstore in a
Bottle”, it may be used as an energy supplement, anti-microbial agent, HIV
treatment, etc. However, VCO safety assessment appears to be limited providing
ground for the group to investigate its mutagenicity.
Anti-mutagenic potential was
also studied, due to claims that VCO shows anti-carcinogenic activity. This study
determined the mutagenic and anti-mutagenic potential of VCO using
randomized-controlled trials of Ames Salmonella mutagenicity assay using
Salmonella typhimurium
TA98 and
S. typhimurium
TA100 and alkaline single-cell
gel electrophoresis (comet) assay using 60 Swiss Webster ICR mice lymphocyte
DNA. Results showed that VCO was non-mutagenic
in vitro
and
in vivo
,
regardless of dose. Moreover, VCO appeared to be anti-mutagenic at high dose
in both Ames test (TA98 and TA100) and comet assay. Low dose VCO exhibited
anti-mutagenicity in TA98 and comet assay, but not in TA100. Dose dependence
was observed
in vivo
using comet assay. Moreover, Ames test using TA100 also
shows higher (but not statistically significant) anti-mutagenic capability of a higher
dose of VCO. No dose dependent relationship was however found from the Ames
test using S. typhimurium TA98. In summary, Ames test and comet assay show
that VCO is non-mutagenic and anti-mutagenic. The results of this study could
lead to further studies involving the therapeutic use of VCO as an anti-cancer
agent.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Several people provided helping hands at just the right moments to make
the research project possible. We would like to acknowledge, with utmost
gratitude, those people:
1. Dr. Isidro Sia and Prof. Suzie Sio of the Department of Pharmacology – for
leading us to a research topic and serving as our bridge with experts in the
field.
2. Research Assistants at the UP Institute of Chemistry, most especially
Danica Dimaya and Rachel – for providing training and assistance and
sharing their experience with us.
3. Kuya Edcel and members of the Institute of Human Genetics staff – for
training and assisting us in comet slide analysis.
4. Kuya Nonoy and Ma’am Emma of Biochemistry Lab – for providing the
proper storage for our slides.
