ABSTRACT

The indiscriminate use of synthetic products has led us to the state of resistance and also provoked the need for natural products. The products from coconut were known to have antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor activity from time immemorial. Hence this study is undertaken to find out the antibacterial activities of coconut oil against gram positive and gram negative bacteria isolated from clinical samples. Bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were the challenge organisms included in the study. Coconut oil was collected, purified by filtration method and stored at 4 °C. Coconut oil was diluted to six different concentrations – 100%, 50% and 25%, `12.5%, 6.25% and 3.125%. It was tested against the challenge organisms using tube dilution method and Ager well diffusion. Varied zones of inhibition were observed by coconut oil against the pathogens. The results of the sensitivity test shows that not all concentrations of coconut oil had antimicrobial activity against the challenge bacteria. 100% concentration of coconut oil was found to inhibit all the challenge organisms (Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and E. coli) same as 50% concentration of coconut oil. However 25% concentration of coconut oil inhibited just one of the pathogens tested. The limitations in our study can further be overcome by using various extracts and with larger number of samples.