Coconut Water: A Review on Its Health Benefits, Pharmacological Properties and Traditional Uses

Coconut water is an ancient tropical drink used since over a thousand years ago and has long been a symbol of religious culture. Internationally, the popularity of coconut water is increasing every day. it is a sterile, pure, sweet, and refreshing liquid. Coconut water is rich in nutrients, has natural hydrating qualities and is good for health. All its parts are used in some form in the daily lives of the people who live in traditional coconut growing regions. It is low in fat and calories, and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and proteins, potassium, and chloride, and contains natural sugars. It is good for the body and can also be used for skin and hair care because it is an excellent source of natural moisture. Coconut fruit is unique source of various natural products to produce medicines against many diseases. Its fruit constituents, such as the mature coconuts and sweet coconut water, offer several pharmacological characteristics, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Therefore, this review summarizes the health benefits and various uses of coconut water.


Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the (Arecaceae)
family. The coconut palm tree has been recognized as the most important and widely planted palm tree on the planet. This tree is widely planted in Africa, America, and Asia, making it native to the eastern tropical regions [1]. Due to its many uses, it is commonly known as "kalpavriksha", the "tree of life", and it is one of the ten most important trees in the world, which can be used to provide food for millions of people [2].
The coconut palm is monoecious. Its trunk is large and thick. The height of the coconut tree is about 30 m, with a fibrous root system. The crown of the leaves of the coconut tree is on the upper part of the trunk. The length of the leaves is about 7 meters, and the small leaves gradually narrow. Coconut has a fibrous appearance and belongs to the drupe fruit family. It is also called a single-seed stone fruit because it has a hard outer shell, and the seeds are intact in the stony covering (endocarp) of the nut. Green when immature, the shape of green coconut is oval. Coconuts change color when they begin to ripen, from green to yellow and then red, yellow. The inflorescence of the coconut is enclosed in a double sheath. The various parts of the coconut tree are very useful such as the tree's trunk, and the tree's root for medicinal purposes and leaves are used as building materials. The fruit of the coconut tree has great commercial value. Coconut fiber is used as a natural fiber, which is extracted from the outside called the outer shell and is used to make carpets, mats, mattresses, ropes, nets, brushes, etc. Coconut water is the fluid found in coconut endosperm [2][3]. Coconut water is consumed in its natural form and is a refreshing, sweet drink in coconut fruit. It has been used in various parts all over the world because it can be used to treat oral health, cholera, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, and it plays a vital role in helping the body obtain antioxidant properties [4,5,6].
Because of its diverse applications, it has gained popularity in recent years (such as snacks, oil, coconut cream, coconut milk, juice, cosmetics) [7]. Coconut is not only an isotonic drink, but also has traditional uses and traditional medicinal value.

Coconut: Cocos nucifera
Family: Arecaceae Subfamily: Cocoideae There are two types of coconut trees: tall and dwarf. Tall trees bear fruits 5 to 10 years after planting trees [8]. Its fiber, oil, and copra are of the best quality. The male flowers get mature earlier than the female flowers. It lives up to the age of 80 to 120 years. Because male flowers grow before female blooms, this variety is heavily cross-pollinated. After pollination, nuts mature after 12 months.
The dwarf coconut tree grows fast bears fruits within 4 to 6 years of planting [8]. This variety gets pollinated by self-pollination as in this variety here the male and female phase overlaps. The color of the fruits is green, yellow, orange and red. The fruits of dwarf coconut are less hardy and, they require better climate conditions and soil type for their good quality yield of the crop.

Isotonic Beverage
Sailors in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia used coconut juice and fruit endosperm as food and drinking water reserves hundreds of years ago [9]. Coconut water is now popular as a refreshing drink, and thousands of people in the tropics consume the immature section of the nut. Brazil has a sizable coconut business involving long-life packaging [10]. Coconut water is high in potassium, which plays an important role in both the inside and outside of the cell and helps to maintain osmotic pressure. Semi-permeable membranes are found in the membranes of live cells. It is referred to be hypertonic when cells are immersed in solution at a high osmotic pressure. Plasmolysis occurs when water within cells drains out and the cells wrinkle. If external water enters the cell from the outside, causing cell swelling, the process is known as plasmoptysis; if the cell is placed under a reduced osmotic pressure, the process is known as hypotonic [11]. Tender coconut water provides natural health benefits and can provide our bodies with energy [12].

Medicinal Uses
Coconut water has many properties and is used mainly as a natural drink with variety of health benefits, but its primary function is to be utilized as a medicinal agent [13]. It is recognized for its Ayurvedic properties and can be used for Ayurvedic purposes. It is unctuous, pleasant, increases sperm, promotes digestion, and cleanses the urinary tract [14]. Coconuts are used in daily life in many areas. In a country like Sri Lanka, coconut plays an important role as a medical use [8]. It is used for various types of health problems, such as urinary tract infections, eye irritation, stomach problems, placental problems, diarrhea, etc. Natural drink also plays an important role in replenishing water, and During WWII, people in isolated places can also use native habitat to survive [15][16].

Controls Blood Pressure
Coconut water lowers blood pressure by lowering the systolic pressure factor [17]. The research proved that if fresh coconut water is consumed about 300-400ml twice a day for 14-15 days it helps to brings down systolic blood but the same process of intake is not in diastolic blood pressure [18]. Tender coconut water is effective in preventing dehydration in the body, aiding in the reduction of swelling in the feet and hands, defending against cancer, aiding in the maintenance of sugar levels in diabetics, aiding in constipation, aiding in the reduction of cholesterol, aiding in the maintenance of blood pressure, aiding in the prevention of arthritis, aiding in the prevention of blood clotting, and aiding in the prevention of blood clotting [19,20,21]. According to research, the use of coconut water can reduce the heart rate of patients with severe hypertension. The systolic blood pressure and diastolic circulatory blood pressure (BP) of the test group were reduced by 10.6 mm Hg and 6.7 mm Hg, respectively [22].

Cardio Protection
Epidemiological examination recommended that significant degrees of HDL can forestall coronary illness cardiovascular sicknesses like cardiac infarction, cerebrovascular accident [23]. The coconut water has cardiovascular effect in research of myocardial infarction induced in rats [24]. An important biological action of coconut is a significant natural activity that shows utilizing an exploratory model of myocardial localized necrosis actuated by isoproterenol in rodents. Taking care of these creatures with tender coconut water ensured the enlistment of cardiac infarction localized necrosis [25].

Biocatalyst
Coconut water shows up in the protein amalgamation from the recombinant DNA vectors (Bustamante, 2004) [26]. The tender Brazilian's coconuts showed a high reduction reaction at a surrounding temperature in a progression of sweet-smelling ketones and aldehydes, recommending that coconut water is presumably underutilized in organic synthesis studies [27].

Development Mechanism for Plants & Microorganism
In the mid-1960, tender coconut water known to support the growth of microorganisms, especially the "coconut tree" (Nata de coco) microorganisms [28]. Nata de coco cellulose bacteria naturally exist at the interface of coconut water or air [29]. Coconut water is also used to process wine and is a traditional preparation method [30]. Traditionally coconut water is used to prepare vinegar [31]. There is a certain amount of sugar in coconut water, which can ferment. Coconut milk, commonly known as coconut milk, is a type of milk made from coconuts, is used to divide mature cells [32][33]. For example, spinach corn becomes heavier after 5-6 weeks, and the recovery of buds is accelerated due to the development of spinach tissue in 10% to 15% enhanced medium (from 4-5 weeks instead of 8-12 weeks) developed coconut water, which can expand the weight of spinach calluses after 5-6 weeks [34]. Many researchers have discovered that the growth factors in coconut water can also enhance the ability of different types of bacteria in plants and in vitro culture [35,36,37]. For this reason, it is believed that coconut water from young organic products produces better results than water developed from natural products.

Electrolytes
Coconut water contains electrolytes rich in essential inorganic elements, such as phosphorus (9.2 mg%), potassium (291 mg %), calcium (43 mg%), sodium (43 mg%), magnesium (9.9 %) and so on. All these ions present in the tender coconut water are related to the production of osmotic pressure in the blood [38]. Fresh coconut water contains a lot of potassium, which can help maintain blood pressure [40].

Anti-cancerous Property
The outer covering of a coconut is husk fibers, and the secretion of thick liquid from that area is regarded a source for anticancer therapy and a new source of anti-multidrug resistance activities [41]. Identification of new compounds that can overcome mechanisms of resistance and leading to tumor cell death is of great importance for cancer therapy. The carcinogenic effects of fermented milk products can be linked to cancer control and elimination of initial cancer, by slowing enzyme production that transform pro-carcinogenic compounds to carcinogens, or by immune response activation [42].

Anti-diabetic Property
Antidiabetic activity is due to its impact on pancreatic-cell regeneration through arginine, in coconut the kernel has the antidiabetic activity due to the protein content that is present in the kernel of coconut the by reversing level of glycogen, carbohydrate metabolizing enzyme properties, and pancreatic harm to normal levels [43]. In diabetic rats, Coconut water decreased the level of glycohemoglobin by increasing the level of insulin and liver glycogen concentrations. Furthermore, elevated levels of liver function enzyme markers like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase alkaline phosphatase, and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase was significantly reduced when diabetic rats were provided mature coconut water. Treatment with mature coconut water and glibenclamide changed the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea, and albumin in rats that are diabetic, and the globulin/albumin ratio was significantly reversed [44].

Antioxidant Property
In terms of antioxidant activity, L-arginine (30 mg/dL) is a free amino acid contained in Tender Coconut Water that aids in the reduction of free radical formation. Coconut Water contains vitamins like rich in vitamin C, which has been shown to the reduction of lipid per oxidation in rats [40]. When rat's diets are supplemented, the antioxidant enzymes increase. Fresh coconut water samples had the highest antioxidant activity [45]. Tender Coconut Water can increase the levels of antioxidant enzymes. By restoring antioxidant activity and suppressing inflammation, Acetaminophen induced liver damage has been reduced with the use of coconut water vinegar [46].

Anti-viral Property
The antiviral action of cytomegalovirus, Visna virus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, pneumonia virus, leukemia virus, and hepatitis C virus are all lipid-coated viruses against which coconut oil is particularly powerful [47]. These species are killed by the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil, which alter their membranes and interfere with the maturation and assembly of the virus [47]. Monoglycerides are active against these viruses, while diglycerides and triglycerides are inactive. Among the saturated fatty acids, lauric acid has a higher antiviral activity than myristic acid, capric acid or caprylic acid. Monolaurate causes the virus envelope to break down by dissolving the phospholipids and lipids in the envelope [47]. The antiviral effects of FAs and MGs are additive, and the total concentration is important for inactivation of the virus [48].

Anti-bacterial Property
Coconut Water has a lot of properties and has a variety of medicinal uses, as it includes a good amount of albumen and saline content in its water due to this property it is good for the patient with cholera, as well as aiding in the treatment of urinary infections and diarrhea [38].
The most abundant and potent medium-chain fatty acid in coconut is lauric acid, which accounts for nearly half of the content of fats. By dissolving the lipid membrane of lipidcoated bacteria derivatives of MCFAs, such as MGsare effective at killing them. They may be effective against bacteria that cause ulcers of the stomach, sinus infection, cavity, foodborne illness, and bladder infection [39].

Anti-inflammatory Property
Coconut water has various properties of antiinflammatory, the unusual properties of sugars, minerals, vitamins, cytokinin, and amino acids are found in coconut water can be due to the anti-inflammatory and observed in this study, as well as more biological activities of tender coconut water. In both adult and lactating rats, it lowers the threshold. Coconut water's antiinflammatory properties can be attributed to its ability to inhibit prostaglandin activity; As a result, inflammation and discomfort are reduced. The study's findings indicate that coconut water has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that are time dependent. Thermal sensation of pain in hot tail and plate immersion test models, as well as chemical noxious in acetic acid-induced writhing and in formalin-induced paw licking experiments, were used to demonstrate the analgesic property. It was determined that the same anti-inflammatory action was used. Coconut water has anti-inflammatory properties [49].

CONCLUSION
Coconut water is a different kind of juice. Due to its balanced sugar content, low acidity, and isotonic solution composition, it is a potential hydrating and sports drink. Coconut tree is a widely distributed plant with important pharmacological effects, traditional uses, and low toxicity. The medicinal uses of coconuts are widely spread in environments where they are widely used in the food industry. The pharmacological effects of plants depend on the part of the plant or fruit used. The antioxidant properties of coconut come from the shell of the fruit and coconut water. The total value of coconut exports from India is estimated to reach millions. It's no wonder that coconut culture continues to expand every day. India is now putting more emphasis and making the most of the potential and richness of this crop. In addition, coconut is an organic crop that can coexist with multiple plants. When planted with different crops, it can improve soil fertility and is also suitable for agriculture only when the crops are interspersed. Due to its wide range of uses, no matter where in the world the crop is grown, its prospects are promising.

CONSENT AND ETHICAL APPROVAL
It is not applicable.