Virgin coconut oil eyed as COVID-19 cure

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) along with other agencies are studying the curative properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on patients infected with the new coronavirus.

PCA Administrator Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said previous researches showed that VCO had high potency antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal qualities, which can help in the treatment of the COVID-19 disease.

“Initial research results show that the lauric acid in VCO helps fight the coronavirus in three ways, as it: disintegrates the virus membrane; inhibits virus maturation; and prevents binding of viral proteins to host cell membrane,” said Madrigal.

The two-pronged study involves a community-based modified clinical study on the use of VCO, which involves persons under investigation for COVID-19 infection who exhibit symptoms of the disease.

It is also looking at VCO as a supplement to the daily treatment regimen—in addition to the pharmaceutical drugs being assessed in clinical trials—of COVID-19 positive patients at PGH.

—Karl R. Ocampo