Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences

Abstract: The aim of the work is to investigate the antioxidant capacity and antimalarial activities of unripe coconut water. Wistar Albino mice of either sex weighing 20–34 kg were housed in separate cages, acclimatized for one week and then divided into five groups of five mice each. Group 1 (positive control): was inoculated with malaria parasite (Mp+) and treated with 5 mL/kg body weight of normal saline. Group 2 (normal control) was not inoculated with malaria parasite (Mp+) and treated with 5 mL/kg body weight of normal saline. Group 3 (standard control) was inoculated with malaria parasite (Mp+) and treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of Artesunate (standard drug) whose mechanism of action is known. Group 4 was inoculated with malaria parasite (Mp+) and treated with 200 mL/kg body weight of the unripe coconut water. Group 5 was inoculated with malaria parasite (Mp+) and treated with 300 mL/kg body weight of the unripe coconut water. It was observed that unripe coconut water has antimalarial activities since it produced similar effect with Artesunate drug which served as the standard reference drug. Unripe coconut water was observed to have good antioxidant capacity in the serum part of the blood.